CHENNAI: It is normal for an artist to be recognised for his works. But little did P Gnana know that a subject he chose would appeal so much to art enthusiasts that it would become a separate genre by itself. One of the acclaimed artists in Singapore now, Gnana has carved a niche for himself with his abstract paintings on cows and keeps working on it with fresh perspectives. However, you can’t compare his cows with normal ones for he has elongated its features and added aesthetic elements to it. According to Gnana, the cows suddenly intruded into his works. “Initially, I was into portraying relationships with human figures. But one fine day, I incidentally happened to paint a cow along with them. It looked very complete to me,” says the artist. From then, he made cow a part of all his works and went on to paint a series on themes like The Eternal Companion and The Eternal Cow. However, the artist agrees that it didn’t happen by accident and that it was only a reflection of his deep childhood memories of the animal. “We had two cows at home in Neyveli (his hometown) and I know what it is to raise a calf. I have observed them grazing. When they do that, birds sit on them and eat the parasites on their bodies. They actually help each other,” he says. All his paintings reveal the relationship between humans and cows.The artist, however, later ventured into sculptures, which has also been well received by art buffs. His sculptures are based only on cows. He has also made some interesting pieces out of Coke tins and other materials that are generally regarded as ‘waste’. Though Gnana agrees that his mechanical engineering background has helped him in sculpting, he, however, says, “For an artist, everything is artistic, even if you describe it as mechanical or labourious.” He also maintains that the three-dimensional sculptures offer him fresh perspectives and open new windows of imagination to play upon in his paintings.The artist, who says abstract paintings are superior than portrayals, imagines things on a white surface and goes by his intuition after deciding the basic factors. He says that he believes colours themselves communicate better than figures. Gnana, a self-taught artist, has received the Lasalle Scholarship from the Lasalle College of Arts in Singapore. Currently, Gnana runs a gallery and curates shows by inviting artists from across the world, including Tamil Nadu. His works are a part of the collections at the President of the Republic of Singapore and the Singapore Art Museum of the National Heritage Board. He claims that many Australians have collected his works, as they too like cows like Indians.(Gnana is showcasing his works, both sculptures and paintings till October 6 at the Art World. For details, call 24338691 or 24315371.)
Comments
0 comment