THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The paintings of Parvathy and Aarathy lined up inside the Museum auditorium may confuse an onlooker in the beginning. Initially it is not easy to recognise the artist behind each work. But, on observing from close quarters, it is apparent that they belong to two different artists who possess their own style of expression. The exhibition is the realisation of their liking to the world of colours that both have been carrying with them from their childhood days.
From early lessons in crayons to experiments with water colour, charcoal and acrylic, both have their own way of colouring their imagination. For Parvathy P V, a final year Bachelor of Fine Arts student in the National Institute of Speech and Hearing, has been in the company of colours from the age of five. Aarathy P V, who is now a plus-one student in Arya Central School began to try her hands at art after getting inspired by the strokes of her elder sister.
While Parvathy’s works are found to have an inclination towards light shades and quick strokes, Aarathy seems driven by bright colours. Their mother, Vijayalekshmi gives an explanation to this, “As children, When Parvathy got a set of colours, she was eager to copy what was on her mind on the canvas in her own fashion. On the other hand, Aarathy loved to patiently sit for long hours and apply each colour without any hurry.”
Though Parvathy has a fastidious approach, it has a distinctive style of her own. Her works in charcoal appear to be on the lines of abstract impressions. Artist Raveendran Puthoor, who has been training the sisters in painting for the past six years, says, “Parvathy is more keen on the subject she wants to communicate. Her bold strokes reflect het innate talent. Aarathy, on the contrary, has an eye for aesthetics and is keen on details.”
An interesting piece among the works of Parvathy is a painting that has numerous geometrical shapes in it. Circles, concentric circles, rectangles and triangles in different shades is aesthetically pleasing. A visitor even commented that the work is distantly evocative of the style of veteran artist K C S Panicker. Her experiments with charcoal in depicting a flower, coconut and plants are also worth a gaze.
Aarathy’s paintings are done against a bright background. She has chosen the dark variants of blue for this purpose. Many of her works convey the festivity in nature and human life. A multi-coloured peacock, a girl rejoicing in a verdant country side, parrots fluttering above a garden, a moment of joy of a set of girls and similar subjects appear on Aarathy’s canvas. Radiant shades of red, blue, yellow and green appear to be her favourties.
Parvathy, who is focusing on her studies in art, wants to carve a niche for herself in painting. Aarathy has opted for a science subject and is keen on searching fresh pastures where art and science go hand in hand. Their father A Padma Kumar is Chief Manager with Indian Bank and mother Vijayalekshmi is a home-maker.
The exhibition, which will conclude on Sunday is open from 10 am to 5 pm.