In his paintings he resourcefully amalgamates traditional and modern techniques, that’s the painting style of artist and alma mater of Cochin School of Art, Jeevan Lal.
“Standing amidst my precious paintings, I feel like a mother goose” says Jeevan, his eyes gleaming with adoration. Looking around the art gallery one can view several paintings and sculptures that Jeevan refers to as his children. “The paintings speak for themselves,” he says when asked about the title ‘Avatar’ his artwork.
As you walk through the room looking at the paintings on the wall you will notice that the paintings have a touch of Kerala culture and spiritual mounts. “Indian philosophy and Bible have inspired me a lot to paint,” says Jeevan. Every painting that hangs on the wall has a story in it, representing both the modern times and the Indian philosophy. Pointing at a painting that has a blend, mostly of darker and lighter shades of brown with a dash of orange to it he says, “That is Jesus Christ on a cross and a man is coming towards him carrying another cross, with a modernized background representing the present age.”
Another factor that engages the interest of an onlooker is that Jeevan himself designed and framed his paintings with mere wood and paper. “It is his (Jeevan Lal) this dedication and passion for art that has resulted in such creative outcomes,” says T Kaladharan, the owner of the art gallery and a friend of Jeevan. Apart from the paintings, sculptures are also displayed. That one which catches the attention is a hanging sculpture, sculpted in a way that it is narrowed towards the end. Few of his paintings are adapted from this style where the figure is broader at the top and narrows at the end.
Jeevan Lal was part of the team that created exhibits for several award winning pavilions like Kerala, Punjab, Goa, Andhra, Jammu and Kashmir, the Nehru pavilion, Italy and many such progressive interests. He also had the opportunity to exhibit his talents of creating sculptures and murals at India’s premier exhibition ground at Pragati maidan, New Delhi.
On the day of inauguration there was a Sangeetha Sayahnam performed by Thampi Kakkanadan and team. It included violin performance by Ginan, Navneeth Kumar, Sudheer, Charles, viola by Thampi Kakkanadan and cello by Vishwanathan. Life and works of great Artists such as Raphael, Van Gogh, Rambrandt, Valazquez, Glotto, Bruegel, Durer, Rubens, Vermeer, Titian, Elgreco and Picasso will be screened in the coming days at the art gallery at 7 in the evening.
