Thiruvanthapuram: A man with octopus limbs sits comfortably snug inside the deep blue of a sea, surrounded by corals as large as him, in Thouseef Basheer's painting. "I used to dive since childhood. That's what I have depicted though a friend modelled for me," says the young artist from Kavaratti in Lakshadweep. And this painting will be one of the many that most Thiruvananthapuram residents are going to miss at the annual degree show at Government Fine Arts College, Palayam. They are also going to miss free live portraits to be made every evening from 4 to 6 pm, until July 4.
For, the city remains unaware of the show which showcases the works of the BFA students at Government Fine Arts College, Palayam. In fact, most residents do not know that such a college exists. Auto drivers aware of every nook and corner of the city know the State Central Library and the giant textile building here, but not the campus that lies right in between. The few who trickle in, come because their friends would have told them about it. On Saturday evening, there were just three people who had come to saunter in the Fine Arts halls. One of them, Ratheesh Kumar, also an artist, had been told about it by his friend who was a faculty there.
The students and alumni had made a short film promoting the exhibition. Students had also distributed notices at the nearby colleges. This time, the delay of the Degree Show must have affected the turnout, says Remya Wilfred. "Many of the students have gone to write their MFA entrances at other fine arts colleges. Moreover the BFA evaluation was delayed. These were the reasons the show had to be put off," she says. Still another student says, "This show is for the people, but people don't care. It is not because of the delay. None of the people were eagerly waiting for it." Shows like these are meant for people who are really interested, and not the masses, says Subrahmadev V S, a student. "Such people come looking for the show," he says.
