CHITRADURGA: Well-known artist P R Thippeswamy’s water colours made an appearance at the book fair, not as a merit-worthy virtuoso that the Kannada Sahitya Parishat is proud to flaunt as a native of Chitradurga, but more as a rebel representative ignored by the sammelan.
His nephew, prof. (retd) Parameshwar of Mysore University, despite repeated appeals to the KSP, was denied a stall at the fair, and has brought prints of some of Thippeswamy’s prized paintings for display, at his own cost.
The late Thippeswamy, a recipient of the Rajyotsava and state Lalitha Kala Academy awards, is also remembered for the worthwhile contribution he made as president of the Venktappa Art Gallery, a record 47 art-related books were published during his tenure.
Thippeswamy himself wrote 15 well-researched books on the subject.
The speciality of his paintings is the transparency technique he adopted, where his penchant for nature found an outlet in landscapes in water colours. Neither he, nor other artists from Chitradurga district feature in the exhibition, where food and sundry stalls abound.
Clarity, proportion, and attention to detail are the hallmarks of the 56 prints on display, with Kuvempu’s house, his garden, Gaganmahal, and a madrasa being the riveting works.
“The neglect of artists speaks volumes for the KSP’s attitude towards art. I took it up as a mission to expose visitors to a great artist of the district,” says Parameshwar.
