No art or profession too small for anything.Micro artist Mahesh, a student of JNTU Fine Arts college, hasconverted his passion of micro art on lead pencils into his profession. From carvingout Rajinikanth to popular icons, he is doing great business/work
HYDERABAD: Watching I Am Kalam, a 2010 feature film based on the life of our late president Dr APJ Abdul Kalam, can make anyone go moist eyed, thanks to the heart-touching story on how he zealously followed his passion, while working as a newspaper boy. He wore his hard work as a badge of honour that India can be proud of, for years to come touches us. None can match him, but there are a few who chose to follow his footsteps.
Mahesh Shiva, from Bonthapalle of Medak district, pursuing his first year of BFA Sculpture from JNAFAU, Hyderabad is one such, who will inspire everyone with his macroscopic work of micro art.
There are many students who barely manage to get to college on most days to study, but Mahesh is a pro in balancing his work and college. He has been fascinated by micro art and he translated his passion into a profession and is now pursuing it in college too.
This 19-year-old sculptor in the making was too young when he discovered his zeal for carving the delicate lead of pencils. He was too engrossed to explore any other subject but sculpting. “I hail from a humble family. Dreaming of making pencil carving a profession was a no-no. But my heart was in it and I took it up,” Mahesh informs.
He was in Class X when he started micro art as a hobby, but in no time, it became by a source of earning. “My father, who is no more was a painter. I grew up watching art and craft, which had a deep impact in my brain. I knew my path was art and nothing else. My income is precarious but that doesn’t bother me. I sleep with a contented smile on my face and I felt that was important,” he shares in a tone, that can touch even a rock’s heart.
His younger brother is a helper in a medical store and he too earns for his education. His mom’s health doesn’t support her to step out for work and thus he burns the midnight oil in carving, sculpting and earning. “My fees is Rs 10,000 per annum. Whenever there is a flow of income, I save it and pay my fees and also send it home for household expenses,” he informs.
Thanks to his friends, classmates and well-wishers who promote his art through the word-of-mouth, Facebook posts etc and fetch him clients and orders.
“I never needed a professional course for art. I was born with it. I was involved in micro art and sculpting for a long time. My dream is to become a professional sculptor and be a part of gallery art, which would help people acknowledge my work to the optimum level. This is a four-year course, if things sail smooth, there is another two-year course, which will land me into a good gallery,” he says with fingers crossed and hope in eyes.
He is a big fan of this celeb and he has made a few pencil carvings of him too. Hint: He made Twitter follow him; He writes a cheque and the bank bounces; He accidentally drops his wallet and that becomes Swiss bank. “I am a fan of Superstar Rajinkanth, not just for his style, but on how he turned into a great actor by sheer hardwork and enterprise. I have made more than five micro art pieces of Rajnikanth. In fact, during Kabali, one of the clients posted on Facebook. It was circulated and appreciated,” he smiles.
His inspiration is his dad, a commercial painter. “He didn’t even know to write his name on his own, but his paintings spoke volumes. Nobody could take their eyes off it. He learnt everything on his own and progressed. He lives in my art,” he shares, teary-eyed.
Mahesh has created 200 pencil carvings and sculptors. This 19-year-old is sure to create history in gallery art of sculptures and micro art.