KOZHIKODE: A mural art exhibition beyond the confines of Hindu mythology, ‘Chumarchandangal,' gives new dimensions to traditional art.
A piece from ‘Vadakkan Pattu,' the birth of Jesus Christ and his resurrection have been showcased in the exhibition, apart from traditional works depicting stories from Hindu mythology.
The exhibition featuring the mural works of 28 non-professional artists, is being organised by the S K Pottekkatt Cultural Centre at the Kerala Lalithakala Akademi Art Gallery.
Around 80 paintings of the group, consisting of doctors, teachers, bank employees and housewives, completed under the guidance of mural artist K R Babu, have been displayed at the expo.
Traditional mural works as well as a novel approach to art add glory to the exhibition. Sadan Melam, an artist from Kadampuzha, Malappuram, who has recreated a scene from ‘Vadakkan Pattu,' showing the ‘Ankapurappadu' of Aromal Chekavar, says that his work is the first-ever mural adaptation of ‘Vadakkan Pattu.'
He has also brought the trinity of Carnatic music, Thyagaraja Swami, Muthuswamy Dikshithar and Syama Sastri into the mural style. Paintings based on Hindu mythology are also represented in his works.
About his students' works, K R Babu says that the new concepts were brought into the mural style with the usage of basic mural colours as well as by adapting the drawing style.
“Yellow ochre, Indian red, green, blue and black have been used,” says Babu.
Unlike the natural paints extracted from stones and leaves, used in traditional temple wall mural works, acrylic is the medium used for the paintings at the exhibition. “It is difficult to use the paints extracted naturally on a canvas as it will not absorb it,” explains Babu.
Among the works related to Hindu mythology, Lord Krishna seems to be the favourite character of the artists and a large number of paintings are based on characters from the epic ‘Mahabharata'. A lot of works showing Krishna and Radha, Krishna and Gopikas, Unnikkannan (baby Krishna) and Yashodha as well as ‘Alilakkannan' (baby Krishna lying on a banyan leaf) have been displayed at the expo. Even the ‘Geethopadhesha,' a piece from the 'Mahabharata,' showcasing Krishna and Arjuna has been represented on canvas. “I often recite the particular rhyme from the epic while doing a painting to visualise the scene and to ensure that no element is missed,” says Dr P G Dhanya, one of the artists.
‘Pradosha Nritham' of Lord Siva, symbolising a dance to abolish evil, ‘Sakthi Panchakshari,' a picture showing Siva, Parvathi, Ganapathi and Murugan and ‘Sreerama Pattabhishekham,' a scene from the 'Ramayana,' are some of the exhibits.
The exhibition, which was inaugurated by Kerala Kalamandalam Vice-chancellor P N Suresh, will conclude on May 20.