Drawing from divinity

Artist Ramesh Gorjala reinterprets tales from the epics and stories of gods and goddesses in a contemporary setting.

Intricate detailing marks the artistic creations of Tirupati-based artist Ramesh Gorjala, who depicts picturesque stories from the lives of gods through his paintings in kalamkari style. His patrons include Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who bought a large canvas based on the divine mother of cows, Kamadhenu, last year.

Talking about the show, the artist says, “Samarpan for me means complete surrender of the body, mind and soul and belongings. Through these works I submerge my own identity with that of my art. I have been busy with numerous group shows and travelling. It took me a year to research and create works for the new collection.”

Ramesh, who hails from a family of kalamkari artisans in Kalahasti, uses his mastery over the technique of drawing to portray a contemporary take on mythology. “As an artist, a story or narrative is very important to me,” expresses Ramesh.

He continues, “The beauty of mythology lies in telling a story in a way that engages people. I was fascinated with drawing Hanuman and Krishna. When I began, I realised that many artists have drawn gods and goddesses, but the stories were lost in the transition. So, I started incorporating innumerable figures within the outlines of Hanuman or Krishna, thus narrating different stories.”

Earlier, Ramesh’s canvas used to have a central character and a little narrative around it. But in this exhibition, he is focusing more on the narrative, shares Jinoy, one of the curators of the show. “His signature style is built around one central protagonist and into this body the artist builds smaller images to create a profusion of multiple narrative sequences,” explains Jinoy, adding, “Ramesh’s work continues the inward journey into the depth of Indian mythology. With his trademark use of intricate kalamkari and beautiful earthy tones, his art brings a subtle joy into the heart. Each creation leaves the viewer with an inexplicable sense of connection to our ancient mythology. His imagery reflects some of the mythological tales that he heard as a child and he tries to capture the epic characters of Shiva, Ganesha, Hanuman, Vishnu and other deities through his artwork,” points out Jinoy.

The paintings present chapters from Ramayana, Mahabharata, Buddhism and Dasavataram. Jinoy says, “On display are around 20 large canvases and 25 small ones filled with detailing. This time, you will see the canvas filled with narrative. For example, his work titled Krishna represents a dreamy Krishna enjoying a sunny day. The colours he has chosen to depict the scene are the vibrant hues of gold and blues, while in the background you can find the god with his playmates and lovers flying through the blue and gold threads of life. Krishna — the god of warriors — who saw everything and nothing. In one canvas, Ramesh captures so many elements compelling the viewer to dig deep and find the story.”

Trained under his uncle Balaji Teertham, a Ph.D in Physics and a National Award winner in kalamkari, Ramesh says he draws inspiration from the temple art.

“I am greatly inspired by the temple atmosphere and the sculptures of our country. I like to create a visual feast for the viewer and engage them through my work, which integrates subjects, mixing not only one figure but multiple images, all unified into a broader character,” says the artist who uses acrylic on canvas.

Ramesh’s fascination with Krishna is reflected in around seven to eight works centred on the flamboyant god. “I have been working on this style since 2002, yet have not been able to narrate half the stories from the Bhagvata. One of my dream projects is to create a work featuring Krishna with his 16,000 wives,” concludes the artist.