CHENNAI: Chennaiites might be used to visiting landmarks such as Central Railway Station, Marina Beach and Elliot’s Beach. But for a tourist, they still remain the must-visit sights in the city. However, A Ananda Kumar’s paintings displayed at Vennirul Art Gallery, CP Art Centre, offer fresh perspectives on these well-known places that would probably incite you to visiting them again. Half of his 28 paintings are about these familiar spots, including St Andrew’s Church, Kapalishwarar Temple, Victoria Hall and Cooum river at various junctures. In his maiden show soon after completing a BFA course from Government College of Fine Arts, Ananda has taken landscape as his theme. He has also showcased paintings that he drew during the all-India tour as part of the course. Those include works on Ajanta and Elephanta caves, Mysore architecture and a village portrait under the title, Indian Panaroma. Though these paintings were done after he came back from the tour, all his city-based works have been completely drawn on the spot. “I have tried to bring the nature of the place, including it’s noise level, using colours in my works,” he says. It was while painting the St Andrew’s Church for his second-year classwork that he realised his affinity towards landscapes. Since then, Ananda has been on a mission to paint every possible view of the city. “Bringing correct lighting and shade is difficult in landscapes, and one should go during a particular time every day to get the perfect setting,” he explains. He cites an interesting incodent that happened two years ago. “I was painting the image of Victoria Hall when a photographer from TNIE clicked my picture. It was published in the next day’s edition. Seeing that, a Chennai Corporation official called me and asked me to give him a copy of the painting for display at his office,” he says proudly.Ananda Kumar has managed to showcase his works using the money he earned as a part-time artiste drawing tattoos and portraits. “I’m also using the money to apply for a master’s degree as well,” he adds. The exhibition-cum-sale is on at Vennirul Art Gallery, CP Art Centre, till August 18. (You can find Ananda Kumar’s paintings at CP Art Centre during the Madras Week celebrations from Aug 21-28.)
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