From ‘Sunday Painters’ to ‘Friday Painters,’ it has been a long journey for B.D. Dhetha, a well-known painter of Kerala. He has been a source of inspiration for many aspiring painters. He never imposed his painting style on his disciples but urged them draw from their own imagination. And that is how a bond between the guru and his disciples developed. Now it’s time for them to pay back. The painting exhibition DATHAM 2019 organised by Bindu Gopinath, Dr K. Gomathi, Harindranath, Sunitha, Tomina and B. Viji, is a tribute to his efforts .
DATHAM 2019 at Lalithakala Akademi Art Gallery, Vyloppilli Samskrithi Bhavan, Thiruvananthapuram, is a vivid expression of emotions and many shades of life brought together by their passion for colour and creativity. Film director Adoor Gopalakriahnan inaugurated the exhibition-cum-sales on Wednesday.
Painting is not only a passion but also part of their life which can be seen from their works. It is a combination of traditional, contemporary and Victorian-style painting. “I still remember Dhetha sir making me colour a parrot. It was when I joined Jawahar Bala Bhavan for the vacation classes. I was eight then and my passion for painting grew,” says Bindu, one of his disciples. For them, painting grows as a desire to express their creative spirit through his inspiration.
The journey of Sunday Painters started when chief secretary and artist Lissy Jacob told B.D. Dhetha that there were a lot of homemakers who aspired to become painters. But many were forced to stop their artistic life after marriage. This prompted him to start this venture.
Dr K. Gomathi, the first woman to graduate in engineering from the University of Kerala, was the first one to give him the dakshina. Later, many home makers and government employees were attracted towards it.
The weekly Sunday Painters were later changed to Friday Painters, which continues at Lekshmi Menon Hall, Jawahar Nagar, Kawdiar. Not only women, but also men are given admission there.
The artists feel that Keralites are attracted more towards ornaments rather than paintings today. “It is better to hold an exhibition outside Kerala. A good painting has the power to kindle our minds with positive spirit. Art stimulates human sense and soul,” they said. They have decided to hold the exhibition every year or two to promote the state’s culture. The exhibition will be on till May 22. It is open to the public from 10 am till 6 pm
