Brush strokes of a master painter-THE HINDU,Sangeetha Devi Dundoo

This weekend, Chitramayee at State Gallery of Art will unveil a restrospective exhibition on artist Surya Prakash. On view will be at least 10 to 12 artworks from each of the artist’s significant series over the years, to give visitors an idea of Surya Prakash’s journey and his artistic oeuvre.

Presenting this restrospective is art patron Manvinder Dawer, of the Mumbai-based India Fine Art gallery. He recalls his association with the acclaimed Hyderabad artist since 2001. Manvinder was in the city on a personal visit and driven by his interest in art, had visited a few galleries, including Surya art gallery and studio at L V Prasad Eye Institute, where he met Surya Prakash’s daughter Kiran. Subsequently, he visited the artist at home and got acquainted with his style of work. “I was just another art enthusiast back then and hadn’t yet begun India Fine Art. He didn’t look at me as a potential buyer of art. It was a friendship that developed without expectations,” recalls Manvinder.

Soon, Manvinder got introduced to Hyderabad’s art fraternity and met “the icons” including Laxma Goud, Thota Vaikuntam and the emerging artists of then like Laxman Aelay. “Surya Prakash encouraged me to coordinate an art camp at CCMB (Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology) that had the participation of several well known artists,” says Manvinder.

Manvinder Dawer

When Manvinder founded India Fine Art, the association with Hyderabad continued.

The forthcoming retrospective, he informs, will showcase the artist’s works from his early years to the present. Through a statement, he draws attention to how Surya Prakash provided a refreshing alternative to the Bengal school of art, following pioneers like Gaitonde and Ramkumar. “There have been retrospectives earlier, the difference lies in the eyes of viewers. We will display paintings from all his major series,” says Manvinder. The paintings will bring to fore Surya Prakash’s blend of abstraction and realism, and his romance and technique with colours.

India Fine Art will also unveil a coffee-table book titled ‘Abstract Realism’ on the master painter.

‘Surya Prakash: In retrospective’ will open at Chitramayee, State Gallery of Art, on December 8, 5.30 p.m., and will be on view till December 23.