Artists welcome New Year

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Offering an artistic welcome to the new dawn, a get-together of 35 artists from various walks of life imparted an aesthetic start to 2012 with strokes and colours. Organised by the Kerala Lalit Kala Akademi, the ‘Navavatsara varnolsavam’ at the Vyloppilli Samskrithi Bhavan was a novel venture of its kind, with artists from all districts in the state gathering at 14 centres at 2 pm on the New Year Day. In various hues and shades, expressions on miniature canvasses took life in acrylic, pastel, water colour and pen/pencil drawings. Veteran artist Kattoor Narayana Pillai, vice-chairman of the Kerala Lalit Kala Akademi, who inaugurated the function, brought to his canvass the human disposition of making judgments on every issue in the society and not making any significant contribution to any.  “Take for instance the Mullaperiyar row or the garbage menace that are gripping the society at present. Though they are being widely discussed and debated, nobody is finding any pragmatic solution,” he said. His disciple and film director Nemom Pushparaj made a witty take on the current political state of affairs in a sketch portraying a system that came to a standstill following a tug-of-war between two parties on either sides. While a set of artists delve deeper into complex narratives and ideas, some others preferred to translate ideas on simpler topics. As one of the artists who was busy crafting a picture pointed out, “an artist or a writer cannot define or interpret his work until it is finished.”  The meeting witnessed the barriers of age and experience getting transcended in the world of arts. The participation of octogenarian K Gopala Menon to Sujeesh Onchery, in his twenties, defined art in its finest form of dedication and enthusiasm.  Usha Ramachandran, one among the few woman artists who participated in the programme, depicted the meanings of loyalty and trust through a soft pastel work showing a pet dog hugging his master. According to Usha, “no creature in the world can be as loyal as a dog. It can remain a best friend of man.” On the poor participation of women in the artistic venture, she said that, “women are not receiving much encouragement to participate in such events.” An exhibition would be conducted later to display the works.