Reflections of struggles within and without

Kochi: Canvas is the platform where an artist displays her thoughts. Some literally portray it while others blend their thoughts with various situations prevailing in society. The works of five artists – Sooraja K.S., Sajith Puthukkalavattom, Jagesh Edakkad, Sindhu Divakaran (painting) and Sajin S.S. (sculpting) that won Kerala Lalithakala Akademi’s this year’s state awards are instances of it. As a woman, Sooraja K.S., native of Elamkulam, believes art is a medium to express women’s issues. This has been her focus ever since she began practising art.

“I translate my feelings to canvas as portraits and figurative paintings,” says Sooraja. Her award-winning work includes three small self-portraits that show a woman blindfolded and silenced by her own plaited hair. “There are many circumstances when we restrain ourselves from expressing our thoughts aloud. That is the core idea,” explains Sooraja, who won the Honourable Mention Award of Akademi in 2013. She was a participant at the first edition of Student’s Biennale where she did portraits. She, who resigned as art teacher at Sree Narayana Public School in Poothotta after marriage, is determined to pursue her artistic stride. “For a married woman, it is a tad difficult to pursue art full time as her presence is required in the family. But I am trying to be active,” she adds.

Nature is Sajith Puthukkalavattom’s forte. Born and brought up at Elamakkara in Kochi, he has witnessed the change his place has gone through. “I saw it transforming from a place with ponds, fields and trees to a township. I realised the depth of destruction of natural resources when I went for college study tour to Kurava Island in 2002. I felt the need to be bound by nature. Then on, nature became an integral part of my works,” says Sajith, who won the Akademi’s Honourable Mention Awards in 2006 and 2014. Sajith, who currently works as a toy designer in a company, has painted a man who dreams of nature, but is surrounded by concrete pillars, in his award-winning work. Flying earthworms are used as a metaphor in it. “Earthworms keep soil fertile. We pollute the soil so much that earthworms fly away.” His latest group exhibition is going on at Indriyam Art Gallery in Mattancherry.

Sooraja K.S.

 

Kannur-based artist Jagesh Edakkad realised his passion for painting when he was in Class X. He took art for his higher studies and commenced his practice in 2012. Like Sajith, Jagesh too is a nature lover. His selected work is from his latest series Glance from Past that gives an aerial view of yesteryear Kerala. Done using pencil and teawash, it examines righteousness of rural life. “I have been living in Ernakulam for the past 17 years. Once when I went home during vacation, I saw mangroves in my native being removed for a hospital site. I saw us losing nature,” says Jagesh, who also won a state award in 2012. Current issues form the crux of Sindhu Divakaran’s paintings. A full-time artist who runs an art school in Angamaly, she has taken war as the theme for her winning work.

“Children bear the brunt of war the most. Yet they are hopeful. The child in my work represents all those who live at the war-affected areas. The background, which shows destruction of our culture, is inspired from Hampi,” says Sindhu. “I love painting fantasy, but how could we do that when reality is so harsh?” she asks.   For Sajin, a college student from Thiruvananthapuram, this award is quite unexpected. His sculpture in wood and bronze that shows a cat staring at a man mirrors Sajin’s experience. “I had pigeons at home. There was a cat that would catch squabs. Once I tried to kill the cat but eventually released it. As soon as it escaped from my clutches, it turned back and stared at me. That found a place in this,” explains Sajin.

Although the artists are happy about the awards, they are not affected by it. They know the reality. Kochi Muziris Biennale has made people close to art but regional artists still struggle to get a foothold. Meanwhile, the Lalithakala Akademi is to reach out to more people. Recently it has conducted a camp for transgenders. “Transgenders will be a part of the Akademi’s upcoming programmes, too,” says Sathyapal, Akademi chairman. “Also, we are conducting Kalari, painting classes for children. The project of opening galleries in jail is on the anvil.”