The Hindu : New Delhi News : Monsoon colours on the canvas

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Monday, Aug 14, 2006

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New Delhi

Monsoon colours on the canvas

Staff Reporter

PORTRAYAL OF NATURE: A painting by Damu Eramam.

NEW DELHI: A nine-day-long painting exhibition titled "Monsoon" by self-taught artist Damu Eramam opened at Travancore Art Gallery here over the weekend.

Hailing from God's own country, Damu's recent works are inspired by the verdant Malabar coast and the monsoon that comes after the scorching summer heat. Monsoon is also the most romantic, creative and inspiring season for artists.

At the ongoing exhibition, Damu has showcased 30 of his works done in acrylic on paper. He has portrayed the lily pond, clusters of laburnum, kalankori -- a tiny fish generally seen in the streams of Malabar coast -- besides showing the resilience of Indian womanhood and the plight of Indian farmers.

Inspired by legendary artist Vincent Van Gogh, Damu has struggle a lot to establish his style and name in the competitive world of art. Van Gogh's style and technique of using pure bright colours and rough brush strokes are clearly visible in most of Damu's works.

Born in 1967 in a farmer's family in Kannur in Northern Kerala, Damu enjoyed sketching from his childhood. He was particularly interested in depicting the rural scene on his canvas. His childhood inspiration was the Eramam village, whose people were keen nature lovers and their cultural practices were centred on protection of nature.

Damu's first exhibition was held in 1985 in Kannur. Since then, he has held several solo and group exhibitions in Delhi and other cities.

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