Born in Madhira, Khammam district, city-based artist Surya Prakash is a name fairly widely recognised in the artistic circles.
With close to 50 years of art to his credit, Prakash is one of those ‘been there, done that' artists.
Yet, proving it’s never too late for firsts, the 72-year old will soon have his first solo exhibition in Singapore by Fiidaa art gallery, from September 14 to 16.
Speaking to City Express about his collection and his artistic tryst, Prakash tells us more.
“My collection that will be on display is called Verdant Vistas. It’s nature- based and is part of my current experimentation. These are a product of over eight years of work,” begins the veteran.
Tracing back to his beginning, he recounts that his first solo exhibition was in fact in Hyderabad, in 1963.
“I started as an artist when I was school itself. I was then under the wonderful guidance of the art teacher Mahboob Ali.After that I shifted to Hyderabad and studied at the Fine Arts college for five years. Once again, I shifted after my studies to Delhi where I apprenticed under Ram Kumar.” Along the way, Prakash had the opportunity to also learn under artist greats like Vidya Sagar and Jagadish Mittal.
While Prakash’s works would later take him across the world, with exhibitions in Europe, US, Germany, Poland, Iran, Czechoslovakia, Russia, United Kingdom and France to name a few, he eventually chose to settle down in India, in Hyderabad.
And though his works dot various collections around the world, the interiors of the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB) and LV Prasad’s eye institute are a water mark for Prakash.
“CCMB has about 200 of my paintings in their premises, even though I don’t work with them now. I am however, actively engaged with LV Prasad’s institute. It has been a great experience painting up their walls,” says the artist who’s studio is now housed in the latter’s research premises.
Winner of many awards from the Hyderabad Art Society and Andhra Pradesh Lalit Kala Akademi, besides being conferred with the title ‘Kala Vibhushan’ by the All India Fine Arts and Crafts Society, New Delhi and the ‘Hamsa Award’ by the State government, Prakash still displays an utter dedication to his craft that is unfazed by his achievements.
“I don’t look at art as job that needs to be done, it something that must be done with lots of love and passion. You have to enjoy it. Otherwise you’ll find the artist repeating himself, stuck at a point.” Close to half a century of just being a painter, ask Prakash if he’s ever faced an equivalent to the ‘writer’s block’, he says, “No! I have somehow never been at a loss for motivation. The way i’ve worked, I spend a lot of time on a particular subject - all of which are nature-inspired. There is just so much out there. At one point I was working on the series Pool of Life for almost 20 years which essentially leaves in a water.” And doesn’t that bore him? “Not at all. It actually takes that much time for an artist to truly understand a subject, find your motivation in that understanding and justify that inspiration. I find it necessary to spend some quality time with my subjects.” Verdant Vistas is a product of the same meditative style, done in acrylic on canvas.
Featuring twenty of his works done, they will echo his signature style of large landscapes lush with greenery and brilliant reflections on water.
“To me art is life, a higher calling. I cannot imagine my life without art. This is who I am; all of my being, every breath I take, every nuance of my life,” he simply states.
If you happen to be in Singapore the same time as the exhibition, you can catch artist and his collection at The Gallery at The Arts House, Old Parliament Lane.
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