CHENNAI: He was an inquisitive child, fascinated by the images sculpted and inscribed in temples at his hometown Srikalahasti, Andhra Pradesh. Inspired, Chandra Morkonda grew up to be an artist and is now showcasing his work at his first solo exhibition at Kalpavriksha at Forum Art Gallery.
His curiosity to know the story behind the images led to everyday tales of mythology. “I would listen to stories from different episodes of Mahabharatha and Ramayana. The story that I was often told was Samudra Manthan (The Churning of the Ocean). The sculptures of gods and goddesses fascinated me. I would often wonder about how and who made it. One day I’ll try my hand at sculpting too.”
But how did Morkonda, who grew up in a family of weavers, find his calling in colours and brushes?
“Colours have always fascinated me. Even when I watched my parents weave, I would observe the colours. The first time I painted was in Class 7. A painting of Lord Krishna, carefully copied from a calendar.” Being the first non-weaver of the family, he was glad they supported his decision. “Being artisans, they knew the value of art and handicrafts. They encouraged me to pursue my happiness and I took it as my profession. Another person who stood by my side was my friend, artist and mentor Ramesh.”
It was Ramesh who helped him hone his skills and encouraged him to pursue bachelors and masters in fine arts. It was during his masters that his search for his identity and subject for canvas began. After a lot of time, thought and self-exploration he chose trees.
“My work began with just trees and a single thought of protecting the environment. Soon, the stories from my childhood came flashing. I decided to bring to life all stories that revolved around trees and nature. Kalpavriksha, the wish-fulfilling divine tree from the Hindu mythology was etched on my canvas.” Morkonda is now working on his second set of nature-related art work, Sanjeevani. He hopes to finish it by the end of the year.
Talking about his paintings he says, “I did 10 paintings first and in three months I did 15 more for the exhibition. I found my identity with the childhood stories I heard and inspiration drawn from tribal art. The gods and goddesses took a textured form and the trees, branches, leaves hold a lot of bright, ‘Indian’ colours including red, yellow and gold.”
As an afterthought, Morkonda remembers his favourite Shiva temple. “I would spend most of my time there. The sculptures, pillars and the stories it echoed left a greater impact on me. I still remember the drawings and someday, I will definitely try my hand in sculpting.”
(Check out Chandra Morkonda’s Kalpavriksha collection at Forum Art Gallery till January 15. For details call: 42115596)