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Rustic touch
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Akbar's works stand as a testimony to his love and passion towards art
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THAT ART is an interest driven by passion which cannot be restrained, has been proved time and again. Still, new encounters trigger new interests, for it is these encounters that show the true passion and love of an artist. The paintings mounted by Akbar at Lakshana Art Gallery is a testimony of his love, struggle and spirit towards his art.
The exhibition itself is a high point for the artist, who did not allow himself to be distracted from his vocation despite the worst of pressures — economic, domestic and social. Even luck didn't favour the Andhra University entrance first ranker, preventing him from joining the art course.
Akbar today remains a "self-taught" artist who has kept his passion alive by endlessly pursuing it. His relentless hard work and talent combined with his interest in reading pushed him into the field of contemporary literature where he reigns as an illustrator, artist and designer for contemporary writers of Telugu Literature.
During the last decade-and-a-half, he designed thousands of cover paintings for contemporary Telugu poetry and prose, and also established himself as a senior artist in Andhra Jyothi.
With his first solo show of 35 paintings done in acrylic colours and a well-designed catalogue, the 37-year-old artist has introduced himself into contemporary art field. The exhibition, aptly called "Anecdotes", is a narrative running along the gallery walls bringing alive the rural milieu.
The idyllic charm of rural Andhra, the earthy colours, the contrasts, the cautious compositions and the deft rendering of the right colours shows carefully nurtured talent that went into the making of an excellent illustrator.
Akbar's engagement with social movements concerning the Dalits and women also come across in his work. The dignity of human labour and life comes out as a major preoccupation. Especially noteworthy are the small portraits validating Akbar's keen sense of observation and understanding of the medium and the model.
As a little boy who travelled with his teacher-father to ashram schools in tribal hamlets in Khammam district, Akbar, with this show, has quietly and subtly manoeuvred his dreams and aspirations on to a threshold — the threshold of contemporary art where he can slowly nestle and make a firm place for himself in the near future.
The exhibition is on view at Lakshana Art Gallery up to December 28, between 11 a.m. and 7 p.m.
B. PADMA REDDY
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