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When colours dance
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An artist captures his muse, music, on canvas
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PHOTOS: K. ANANTHAN
CELEBRATING RHYTHM P. Manickavachagam.
He gave up a 16-year job in the telephone department to follow his heart's desire — painting. As a child he had grown up watching his father fashion beautiful pieces of gold jewellery. In fact, his dad would encourage him to draw designs and show him how on the mud floor of his village home. The fascination for form and shape and colours took root and P. Manickavachagam decided that what he wanted to do in life was paint. His life took a detour when he did not get the desired
placement as an art instructor anywhere; so he decided to take up a regular 9 to 5 job. But then when it all got too much for him, he just decided he would give it all up and join the Arts College at Chennai.
He was already 30 years old. But that did not deter him as he was finally doing what he always wanted to do.
Swirl of colours
The Kasthuri Sreenivasan Trust and Culture Centre on Avanashi Road is currently showing his works in the `Rhythm of Ecstasy' series. A swirl of colours greets the viewer on entering the art gallery. Faces, faces, faces everywhere — in blues, greens, oranges and ochre. And geometric shapes. `Semi-abstract', the artist calls it. And the underlying theme is music. "I grew up listening to my father play the mridangam. There was always music at home, in the temple near where I grew up and it has always influenced me," says Manickavachagam.
And as you stand a while in front of his canvasses, it becomes evident that music and dance is the leitmotif. A flurry of strokes denotes the sweep of the dancer's hands and arms.
Fusion
Only the feet pose, captured in fleeting movement and the faces vary in expression — from a slight frown of concentration, to serene contemplation, from ecstasy to a playful pout. "Dance is the universal way of expressing joy — be it in developed societies or in the simple lives of tribals. It is celebrating the human spirit. And my paintings are a fusion of visual art and the performing arts. It is a totality of dance, music and space," he explains.
Rhythms
Indeed, there seems to be taala and laya in the artist's strokes, as if he were keeping time with some music in his head. He actually listens to music as he paints, he says. While most of his exhibits are oil paintings, there are smaller renderings in watercolour and pastel crayons. Again, they celebrate dance and music in some form.
Reaching the people
`Celestial music', `The enigma of rhythm', `The reciting', `The laya', `The mime', `The mudra' and `The expressions' are some of the paintings on display. Manickavachagam feels the only way to bring art to the people is to make it affordable and so, his paintings are priced between Rs. 1,000 and Rs. 5,000. Manickavachagam belongs to Coimbatore and his mural can be seen at Jenny's Club. The sculptures at Black Thunder have also been designed by him. Currently, he is a member of the Architecture faculty at the National Institute of Technology, Tiruchirapalli. sHis works will be on display till 31 July between 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. For details, contact: 0422-2574110
PANKAJA SRINIVASAN
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