Fascinating world of art

Deft brushstrokes in thick and thin paints, the interplay of light and the ability to convey perspective, mystery and texture is a reflection of Suresh Pushpangathan’s creativity and skill as an artist.

Artist Pushpangthan’s early childhood, spent wandering in the lush tropical foliage of Varkala in Kerala, had a lasting impact on his work as an artist and this is a memory that he constantly revisits in his evocative work especially relevant to the present day scenario of a world of fast disappearing flora and fauna.

The son of a traditional sculptor, Suresh grew up watching his father at work and, it is at his feet that that the young boy was introduced to the fascinating world of art. His inborn talent, a childhood spent in rural Kerala and later- day training as an art student at Karnataka Chitrakala Parishath in Bangalore for a BFA followed by a MA in Art and Design from the University of Bedfordshire, Lutin, UK are all reflected in his sensitive work.

Clearly apparent in his work is the influence of the Impressionists and the Post Impressionists particularly Claude Monet. Pushpangathan’s latest body of work, ‘The Treasury of Tranquility’ echoes the peace and stillness of a childhood spent in the lap of nature.

Days spent splashing in ponds amidst water lilies, watching colourful birds, butterflies and dragon flies, coffee plantations and banana groves are clearly the artist’s imagery for his canvas of serenity.

“I feel a certain rhythm in nature when I try to observe it. It has its own diverse moods that are reflected in the form of vibrations. And this is exactly what I try to capture in my work”, says artist Suresh Pushpangathan who can best be described as a nature lover. His artwork is a perfect interplay of light and colour.

A childhood exposure to nature led Suresh to start painting at an early stage, eventually committing to his creativity when he enrolled at the Chitrakala Parishath, Bangalore, graduating in 2002. In 2011, he completed a Master’s degree in Art & Design from the University of Bedfordshire, Luton, United Kingdom. Art aficionado and curator Akumal Ramachander, the man who stunned the art world with his discovery of American abstract expressionist Harold Shapinsky, met Suresh Pushpangathan early in his career.

When: 6:00 pm – 8:30pm; February 10 – 13
Where: Visual Art Gallery, India Habitat Centre Gate 2, Lodhi Road, New Delhi