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Life-infusing potion

Experimenting with colours provides life to paintings of inanimate objects also, G. Narasimha Rao tells Ramesh Susarla

ARTIST WITH GUMPTION Rao derives pleasure from his works.

Growing artistically is a process that can be achieved only through continuous experimentation with colours, varying the type of paintings an artist produces at various stages of his life. Dishing out day-in and day-out same kind of stuff is commercial painting that gives very little social message and in no way provides distinct identity to the artist, says G. Narasimha Rao a renowned artist from Guntur.

Going through his solo exhibition organized at Shyamala Nagar in Guntur, one can find a unique refreshing tinge in the creations. Effortlessly expressing his thoughts and mood through the right mix of colours is his specialty. Except for portraits of national leaders like Jawahar Lal Nehru and Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan that he had drawn in 1970s, every painting is a unique creation.

Steely grit

One among the five painters of Guntur, popularly known as Pandavas, Rao has not used the medium to make money, but has done every bit to promote artists in every part of the country. He himself was never formally trained in it in any fine arts institute.

Undergoing dialysis very frequently due to failed kidneys does not deter him from investing in masterpieces created from his brush that has earned him 25 awards - both at national and international-levels.

He even revived the spirit of Lalit Kala Academy by instituting an organization by this name after the Government-run academy was merged with Telugu University.

In association with chartered accountant V. Umamaheswara Rao, he encourages up and coming artists by organizing camps for them and getting associations in various parts of the country affiliated to this academy. Even with a frail body, he takes personal care of all the paintings in oil on canvas of various sizes.

At the exhibition, the oil on canvas titled `Liberation' just cannot miss one's eyes and Mr. Narasimha Rao says the message of international peace was taken as the underlying message in it.

The serene blue background has bundles of clothes in sober colours interlaced to send a message of oneness and friendship.

The attraction of entire exhibition is however, `Scribbling' - an innovative way of creating a painting on canvas with a pen or a brush.

A hillside landscape with its reflection in the water of a lake in the foreground spellbinds the visitors and forces them to take a second look.

Spellbinding impact

"There are 64 lines in a single square inch, which provide an illusion of creating the painting with dots," Rao explains.

While drawing, one may find only some lines being scribbled here and there. But once finished, its beauty is unmatched.

It is his latest experiment on the canvas, which he has taken up as a hobby now. His children have taken over his commercial painting business and so he does not have to paint anymore for a livelihood.

Having organized 40 solo shows all over the country, this native of Bapatla feels that display of his talent in his native district gives a unique sense of satisfaction. The three-day exhibition concludes on Sunday.

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