KOCHI: As you walk around the room, it gives you a nostalgic feel of a train journey through the southern part of India. Trees, lakes, rivers, animals, historic places, it’s all in there. Artist Nandan loves the story of a journey. He brings to life the journey by rail in miniature paintings.
“I prefer miniature paintings because it can done in a detailed format,” says Nandan.
The works of Nandan are all about motion. Kinetic art is a form where the painting are still but the viewer has to move around to experience the journey. “The railway line is the key. It shows movement and so the person who is viewing the painting has to keep moving and he’ll see the journey unfold before him,” says Nandan. Nandan had earlier worked on a bison who runs around the dessert to finally reach a forest.
The train journey takes you through the green lands of Palakkad, the historic and tourist destination Hampi, Vallarpadam, Thekkady, Tamil Nadu and finally Ernakulam.
“If there were railway tracks in places like Vallarpadam and Thekkady, the journey would be pleasant and beautiful. The scenes are all my memories of my journey in trains. I haven’t used any photographs for inspiration. This is all my imagination, what I’ve seen,” says the artist.
Nandan uses water colours for fine detailing in his work. Acrylic is thicker and so detailed work will be difficult to achieve, says Nandan.
Nandan did a four-year course from Cochin School of Arts in 1981. “The institute has a feel of Shantiniketan and also the learning experience is such. I always had the inclination towards art from my childhood. A lot of carpentry work would be done in home but I found my passion in painting. Cochin School of Art helped me grow as an artist,” says the Kochi-based artist.
Nandan’s works have been exhibited in Mumbai, Hyderabad and Delhi. His recent works will be on exhibition at Jehangir Art Gallery in Mumbai later this month. “The way art is perceived in Mumbai is quite different. People come to the exhibition to spend hours there. Also they accompany their family along with them. I have noticed that they are quite knowledgeable on art too. They speak to the artists and ask questions. It’s a good experience. In Kochi, people rush through the exhibitions. They don’t stay and watch the painting to admire the artists’ work. That needs to be improved here,” says the artist.
Nandan also taught art at his institute, Chitrashelam, for 29 years and after which he decided to spend some quality time on his passion, miniature paintings. “Teaching is a responsible job and takes a lot of time. I wanted to focus on my work and so I had to stop teaching. It’s been nine years since I stopped teaching art,” says Nandan.
Nandan says his wife is his biggest support. As an artist, Nandan says he can’t always support the family financially because his profession isn’t exactly the one which mints money. “If it weren’t for my wife, I wouldn’t be able to pursue my passion as I will have to also focus on providing for the family. My wife is a teacher in Our Lady’s Covent High School in Thoppumpady and she also provides for my family,” says Nandan.
“I wish to travel all over the country and add more to my collection of the train journey exhibition. It will be a great experience in itself,” says Nandan.