KOCHI: At the Durbar Hall, Kochi, recently, a boy was running around the halls of the art gallery. He was of slight build, with an innocent cum mischievous look. So, it comes as a surprise when artist Bindhi Rajagopal says, “He is having his own show.” Yes, Prayagh Sanjeev Krishna, who is only nine years old, has just had a full-fledged exhibition, with 28 of his works on display. The majority are acrylic on canvas, while the rest are crayon drawings. One such crayon drawing is of a boy standing next to a teddy bear. “Prayagh had drawn this for an inter-school competition and was awarded the third prize,” says Bindhu, Prayagh’s mother.
Most of the works are of nature and animals. There is a black and yellow butterfly against a bright and colourful backdrop of numerous flowers. Another one is of a river between high hills. Then, there is a cat looking with enlarged eyes at an aquarium full of fishes. A few are from his own life. There is one acrylic work of a scene in a park. It is a simple work of a yellow sun against an azure sky, and lots of black birds flying around.
Down below, just beside a mud path, a man is standing. He is dressed in a pink shirt and red trousers. “That is my father,” says Prayagh. On a swing sits a small boy (Prayagh himself), while on a slide, a bigger boy (elder brother Pranav) is lying down. A young girl in a blouse and paavada is sweeping the grass lawn. “The girl is my neighbour,” he says. There are several flower bushes all around.
Another work is a night scene. The sky is full of stars and sitting on a mound is a boy with a cat next to him. Prayagh has drawn them from the back. “This is my neighbour and his cat,” he says. Prayagh’s interest in painting was inspired by Pranav, who is ten years older than him. When Pranav would take part in art competitions, Prayagh, from age three onwards, would tag along. Just to keep the toddler quiet, Pranav would give him a piece of paper along with some crayons. Then Prayagh would do some drawings. And the habit continued.
Today, as a student of the Mar Thoma Public School, at Kakkanad, Prayagh gets lots of support and encouragement from his art class teachers, Thomas Kurisingal and Shirley Ravindran. Says Thomas: “Prayagh has a natural talent. What I like is that he puts a lot of colour in his works. This exhibition is an expression of his own creativity.”
Yes, indeed, the boy is on a ceaseless creative flow. “Prayagh does his paintings in the evenings when he returns from school,” says Bindhu. “Sometimes, when he is playing outside, with his friends, he will get inspired and rush home and start drawing. On other days, when he gets up in the morning, he will get an idea and immediately do a work.”
This is no surprise since artistic talent runs in the family. Prayagh’s father Sanjeev K is a Carnatic vocalist who teaches children in a freelance way. On the other hand, Bindhu is a vocal trainer at the Mar Thoma school, while Pranav is studying animation design. The family have a troupe and they go all over Kerala giving performances. “Prayagh can also sing very well,” says Bindhu. The family will offer full support as Prayagh grows older. “We might enroll him in an art school,” says Sanjeev. Adds Bindhi Rajagopal, “By holding an exhibition, Prayagh is already an artist. He has a bright future.”
Winning run
Winner of All India
Clint Memorial Award
Balarama
Odissia State winner
Balarama YMCA
State winner
Has won Kerala
Fine Arts Society Award five times
Has won Fresco
Best Artist Award
three times
FACT All
Kerala Competition winner five times