IMAGES of Ramayana that trace their origin to the murals of ancient temples can be seen at Nanappa Art Gallery.
The epic with its narrative allegories spiced with devotion and philosophical elements can be seen in the works of former students and principal of Guruvayur Devaswom Chumarchitra Padhana Kendram. God is in the details they say and the murals adorning the gallery go into the intricate lines of life through the Ramayana. Though the technique and figures take you to the traditional, the medium and technique smack of things modern. The frames are mostly acrylic on canvas and a few use natural pigments on asbestos.
‘After the Yagna’ is a huge piece with many images and it takes one to the point when Dasaratha distributes ‘prasadam’ to his three wives so that they will conceive and
K U Krishnakumar’s lines with natural colour on marine plywood has done justice to the ceremony and is amazing. Rama and Sita in various moods enjoying the simple pleasures of life have been delineated by different artists. Sreeraj has focused on the happy moments of Rama and Sita. Stylised forms of the divine couple take shape in acrylic in Mukesh’s hands. Against the background of the forest, their serenity and bliss are enriched by the
harmony around. ‘Mareechapravesham’ gives us an idea of the events to follow and Ratheesh Kootanad has given fine touches to it. K U Krishnakumar has brought out the evil and cunningness in his ‘Mareechan’ with ink on paper. He has also brought out the cordiality between Sri Rama and Sugriva in ‘Sreerama-Sugriva Sakhyam’. K C Sijith has captured Sita in Ashokavana in a pensive mood. The battle scenes come alive in ‘Sreerama Yudham’ by Deepu, ‘Indrajith’ by Suneeth, ‘Surasu’ by A Bimal, ‘Lakshmana Vibheeshana Sakhyam’ by Vasanth, ‘Hanuman’ by Sunil, war between Bali and Sugriva and the other frames take your imagination and thought to the various chapters of the epic.
The show begins with ‘Ma Nishada’ by Sasi Edavarad and ends with ‘Sreerama Pattabhishekam’ done by many.
C P Santhosh, Prabish, Bibish U, V Krishnakumar, and Sastrasarmanprasad have lent colour to the show.
The natural pigments and brush used for murals are also exhibited. The exhibition will run through August 16.
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