A touch of gold

The rich arts and crafts of India have charmed the world since ages for its cultural uniqueness. And it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to credit traditional artists as the unnamed flag bearers of our artistic heritage that’s being passed on for generations. One such rare form of art is the gold dipped miniature artwork of Rajasthan, which is slowing being forgotten due to a lack of skilled artists and the high cost of production. Famous miniature artist, Suvigya Sharma recently exhibited his latest collection of gold miniature paintings, redefined Tanjore artworks and gold-plated portraits at a week-long solo show called Illuminations at the Kamalnayan Bajaj Art Gallery.

The artist showcased a series of 100 artworks for the show, using 24-carat gold gilding and natural colours. While most of his artworks depicted images of Hindu gods and goddess, a prominent highlight of the show was the Tirupati Balaji mural installation gilded in 24-carat gold and silver illuminating light from the back. Speaking about his latest collection, he says, “I showcased a 100 of my works at the exhibit, out of which 11 were new works. As an artist, I try creating artworks which are powerful and different from what other artists do. I’m not confined to doing mythological deities, but as a Hindu tradition, this particular solo laid emphasis on Indian gods and goddesses to revive this erishing form of art. All the artworks have a copyright, and the colours we used are artistic poster colours, natural pigments and vegetable dyes on handmade canvases. It took me over a decade to complete the entire collection and it includes a diverse line of miniature paintings that use techniques such as Pichwai, Kishangarh style, and Thikri paintings. There are also vintage stamp paper paintings and refined Tanjore artwork gilded in 24 carat gold. The mural artwork is a fusion of tradition and contemporary art, depicted as modern-day imagery of Tirupati Balaji, created in a raw form by sandblasting before gold and silver embossing. Whereas the Panchmukhi Ganesha is another copyrighted work by me and has become one of my signature styles over the years. To sum it up, one can say, this series is one of the richest collections across the globe for its cost of creation.”

Suvigya, who is the only miniature painting artist associated with the Make in India initiative uses his art to create an art ecosystem for the weaker sections of society through training and skill development in this art form. A self- proclaimed ‘torch bearer’ for miniature paintings, the Jaipur-based artist is now working closely with government bodies to promote the technique. Speaking about reviving the art form, he mentions, “Rajasthan has strong roots in art and tradition. Nathdwara is all about Shrinathji Pichwai paintings, and I come from a lineage of three generations soaked in this divine art form. My dad, RK Sharma is also a renowned miniature artist, and I am following in his footsteps to do my bit to save this art by organising art workshops, shows and auctions across the globe. After meeting the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, I got a free hand from the Government of India to take the initiative of reviving this art on a bigger scale.”

The artist also enjoys a dedicated patronage from some of the richest families in India, and has done commissioned gold portraits for celebrities, industrialists and politicians. Paintings by Suvigya start from a base price of `25,000 and go up to lakhs. Speaking about his famous clients and his vision as an artist, he says, “All the portraits or any art form that I create commercially are private commissions for my clients. I have done portraits for Rani Mukherjee, Kangana Ranaut, Sachin Tendulkar, PM Narendra Modi, Priyanka Chopra and industrial families such as the Piramals, Ambanis, Birlas and Ruias to name a few. I call myself a freelance artist, who does any form of art with a vision, and meaningful and powerful visual appeal to the people who view it. I meditate on my art and it automatically gets meaning and a soul. I believe that an artist has his own vision while painting any kind of art and has the right to depict his soul on a canvas. I believe in meaningful art, so when it comes to painting Indian traditional or modern artwork, it has to have a form, a meaning that people can relate to. I don’t want to please the masses through my work. For me, it is all about self-contentment. One should do what pleases the soul.”