It takes a little time to figure out his curves and triangles done, famously, in geometrical configuration. The works, predominantly done in stark red, green and yellow colours have writings inscribed over them obscurely. The artist, Akkitham Narayanan explains that the writings are in Malayalam, and adds that there is no need for them to stand out.
“Art is a relative concept, and the idea is to let the viewers decipher the paintings in their own way,” he says in an unperturbed tone.
The seasoned artist, who had conducted a graphic exhibition in Kochi 20 years ago, is back, and this time, he is showcasing paintings which he had completed over a course of 14 years, from 1998 to 2012.
The works of the renowned artist, who belongs to K C S Paniker’s post-neo-tantric art style, have been known for their abstract concepts, including texts and Indian manuscripts.
“Overviewing my works of the past 14 years, I have found that there are less ‘tantric’ elements in the works done recently. Those elements have gradually given way to colours, which now have more prominence. There is no longer any need for complex abstraction,” elaborates the artist.
The colours of his works remind one of murals. The artist says, “I have always been lured by our frescos done on temple walls. There is not a single violent stroke in them, and the peaceful nature of the paintings have always attracted me.”
The artistic influence runs in the family for Narayanan, with his brother Akkitham Achuthan Namboothiri, being an eminent poet. Narayanan, who went to Paris in 1967 to study art, has been residing in the art-loving city ever since.
Analysing the influence of the French capital on his works, he says, “The place where we live influences art only on a structural level. It can be a source of inspiration only on the surface. My upbringing in an ancestral ‘illam’ might have inspired my works, but it was not the place, rather the experience that I gained from there and from Paris, as well as all the places I visited, which helped grow as an artist.”
Ask him about the Kochi-Muziris Biennale, the artist says that organising the mega art show is a positive move. “It is a welcome change for both the cross-section of society and native artists, who have never got a chance to view global art from up close. New trends are emerging in art, which is now an amalgam of installations, kinetic art and many other advancements. An artist should have a knowledge of new trends in art. In that sense, the Biennale is an appreciable effort.”
The exhibition, being held at Nanappa Art Gallery, will come to a close this month end.
