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Snapshots from Kumbakonam

A group of young artists capture the spirit of the temple town in their paintings

Photos. K. Ananthan

Rustic hues ( From left) K.Balashanmugam, R.Ragu and D.Saravanan and their works

It is like entering a serene village. Picturesque greenery, breathtaking blue skies, picture-perfect portraits, ruined temples, and the way of life in Kumbakonam greet the visitors at the ongoing exhibition at Kasthuri Sreenivasan Art Gallery. Young

artists K. Balashanmugham, D. Saravanan and R. Ragu of College of Fine Arts, Kumbakonam, have captured the spirit of the temple town, and presented it in a series of water colours. “Our paintings are nothing but a recollection of our childhood memories in Kumbakonam… the villages, the temples we have visited for sculpture study, the market place, and the surroundings of our college,” says K. Balashanmugham.

The lightings in the paintings are based on the time of the day. For instance, the market place is bright and sunny, and bright colours are used. A rainy evening is dim with sober colours. Ask them about the choice of water colour as the medium, and the artists say they wanted to have a stamp of their own. And, add that water colour works are more interactive. “We wanted to be realistic. It has become a trend to exhibit works in acrylic or oil colours because of commercial interests. In water colours, everything is simplified. Even complex themes can be easily conveyed with simple brush strokes,” he adds.

Temples of Ayyanar, Lord Shiva, bullock carts, the fields, the narrow lanes of the town, and the houses are represented in realistic colours. “Preparation is vital. A key sketch of the image has to be created in mind before we begin. Everything should be kept ready, the different kinds of brushes and the colours,” he adds. Cows and human faces in terracotta lined up in front of Ayyanar catch your attention for their eye for detail and the presentation. So is the splash of green, be it a jungle, the busy roads or the residential area. “Kumbakonam is green everywhere,” they smile.

It is all about creating the feel of a total atmosphere, says R. Ragu. His portrait of a hanger (with a shirt and towel) is a good example. The trio have experimented with innovative themes in the form of combination paintings (more than one concept in a painting). For D. Saravanan, it was an attempt at reviving some old traditions. For instance, the portrait of a village post box. “With the new forms of communication, we have forgotten the habit of writing letters. And, the post box has become an antique piece,” he adds. A potter at work in another example. “No one drinks water from mud pots anymore, because it is not fashionable. May be in a few days, we might never get to see such people,” he explains.

Ther mandapam and temple car also figured in the collection. “We have tried our best to bring alive the picture of village life and the traditions, because the future generation may never get to see them,” they sum up. The exhibition is on till July 16 from 9.30 a.m. to 6.30 p.m.

K. JESHI

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