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`I continue to learn every moment'

K.C. Murukeson, a person who pours his soul into every work of art, writes S.S.KAVITHA

PHOTO: K. GANESAN

ENGROSSED Riot of colour

He spoke of nothing but colours, lines and painting. At first sight, it seems artist K.C. Murukeson's hand simply runs on the canvas sprinkling colours at random. But then he touches it up delicately with a brush, a few quick sharp lines, slashes and strokes here and there, a piece of cloth that drubs hues of colours. And subtly he leads you on to different moods of nature or some abstract concepts suddenly seem to fall into place on his huge colourful spread.

Definition

"Art is a language and I continue learning it every moment," he says with pride. Mr. Murukeson defines an artist's duty as "creating without expecting recognition." On modern art, which most people complain they cannot decipher, he says, "art is the same but it has different forms. People are comfortable with stone sculptures, figurines of gods and goddesses because they are familiar and explicit but modern art is implicit."

He regrets that people buy modern paintings without understanding them, but just to decorate their living rooms. "It is no fault of theirs. Only the doctors know about the contents of a medicine. It is not mandatory for the patients to know the same. Similarly, buyers need not know the nuances of an art. It is the artist's duty to explain his creation, if they asked for one. Also media can help masses in understanding modern art," he says.

Seachange

Comparing his initial years and now, Mr. Murukeson says there was a time when he even borrowed money from gallery owners for transportation, but now the scenario has changed drastically and there is a demand for modern art. Born in 1944 at Kallandiri, near Madurai, Murukeson completed his Diploma in Fine Arts (Painting) from the Government College of Arts and Crafts, Chennai, in 1969 under the guidance professor A.P. Santhanaraj. He had immense interest in painting from his childhood and over the years mastered both oil and acrylic paintings.

For this artist, much of the mystery of art began to unfold after the completion of his studies. But many discouraged him from choosing art as a career as it would mean one long struggle. He took the advice and got involved in family work - agriculture. But his inner voice yearned for colours and shapes. And the opportunity came knocking when in 1980, he sold his art works to Madurai Pandian Hotel and since then has not given up his artist's attire. He went on to become a professional painter eking out a living with his paintings with little regard for criticism from family and relatives.

Only at his age of 59 people start recognising his work and did he pursued his passion with more vigour. "Poetry and art are both symbols of expressions — one through words and the other through colours — which have a soothing effect," he holds.

"If you do something with deep concentration you can do it easily and perfectly. I pour my soul into every work of mine to achieve perfection," he asserts.

Inspirations

The professional painter is adept at both realistic and abstract portrayals for which he draws inspiration from the famous Ajanta Caves. Influenced by the frescoes there, he has created many castle ruins, where, he says, he is able to identify the culture of the period and the country. His greatest works are the cityscapes where one can see disorder, chaos and the life. For his realistic portrayals on riverside, Hogenakkal comes to his rescue.

All the works are unique in their nature, style and use of colours. He claims that he never repeats a colour in his paintings unless or otherwise people want it. He has created landscapes, city spaces, painted cubes, triangles and squares, rigid lines to create images in a free style. In the past three and a half decades, he has created more art and moved beyond the mountains and valleys of Kallandiri.

Mr. Murukeson has held several one-man shows, exhibitions and group shows. Besides winning several awards for his brilliant strokes, his paintings find a place in many corporate houses, private collections, art institutions and galleries. They also have the pride of place in the homes of art connoisseurs abroad too. Now, he works in his studio in his house from early morning to afternoon. "I can neither copy or reproduce an existing frame. To me, everything comes from within. That is why I work in the wee hours when the mind is most fresh and enveloped in silence," says Murukeson.

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