“The elite class who visit art exhibitions have no idea about the lives of rural people. I want them to know more about rural life, I want to show them how rural people are, what real musicians look like, how they celebrate festivals, and much more,” says renowned artist Laxman Aelay as he completes a charcoal portrait that captures the essence of rural Telangana.
The extraordinary piece, created live in just 40 minutes at the Link Café, Sheraton, is called Sharadakaandru. It portrays two goddesses Sharada meaning Saraswati, and Lakshmi, conveyed in the form of a red dot of acrylic paint and it aims to convey that divinity resides in every woman, no matter what her background.
Talking about the meaning behind his art, Aelay says, “I try to convey a social message, a socio-political or cultural statement that I leave for people to understand. The idea is to leave a lot of questions in the minds of my viewers.”
And he seems to have been successful at that. For guests who witness the live painting session, it’s an incredible experience that brings to mind everything from women’s empowerment to childhood nostalgia.
Gourabi Sharma, an HR executive, thinks the artist has brought Indian culture to life with his every stroke. “I haven’t witnessed any artists painting live. This is my first time, and it’s been a wonderful experience. For me, the red dot in the painting depicts the empowerment of women, an idea of how a woman should be strong and bold. I can relate to it so much,” she says.
Meanwhile, Sudhir Gupta, who runs a people’s development organisation, is reminded of his father as he watches Laxman in action. “All my life I have watched my dad paint. And now, it has been a great experience to witness Laxman painting live. He has completed the piece in just 40 minutes and left me amazed. It’s amazing I love the shadow effect and the red dot just elevates the entire work,” he says.
Sharadakaandru is just one of Laxman’s many creations that are on display alongside masterpieces by Indian and international artists at the Link Café. His paintings, most of which are inspired by the rural culture of Telangana, are made up of fluent and bold brushstrokes capable of transporting the viewer into another world. They’re a visual treat for art lovers and novices alike.
