A brush with fame for these Visakhapatnam artists -Nivedita Ganguly, THE HINDU

The works of two Visakhapatnam-based artists – K S Kamesh (43) and G S Vasu (50) – will be displayed at International Artist Grand Prize Competition 2019 to be held in Taiwan in April. This is a part of the Art Revolution Taipei (ART), which is said to be one among the biggest art fairs in Asia and is organised by Taiwan International Contemporary Artist Association.

This year their works were shortlisted from 4,262 entries. They will share space with 369 other art works that the organisers received This is not the first time their works will hang at ART. Kamesh’s works were earlier showcased at the art fair in 2014, 2016 and 2018, while the works of Vasu were displayed there in 2013 and 2018.

Both the self-taught artists and childhood friends are obviously excited. While their works have been showcased at group shows across the country, the international platform holds a special importance.“It is a great platform to showcase our works, get global recognition and help us connect with art connoisseurs from across the world,” says Kamesh.

Poignant emotions

Two of Kamesh’s works that will feature at ART this year are titled ‘Get Together’. The art teacher from Bal Bharati Public School, NTPC Simhadri, has portrayed human emotions in his canvasses.

Geometrical faces seem to exude affection and companionship. Describing the theme, Kamesh says, “Human relationship is the essence of life in the world. But in the present context it is losing its meaning amidst workload and stress. The theme brings back a time when relationships thrived through happy get-togethers.”. From Jatara (village fairs) and Burrakatha (ancient storytelling technique of Andhra) to Panduga (festivals) — it is easy to discover the essence of Indian traditions in his brightly-hued canvas.

The artist is now gearing up for a solo show in Visakhapatnam planned this year.

Vasu’s canvas ‘Valley’ that will be displayed at ART is a landscape of blues and whites .

Moods from hinterland

The different moods of winter in Araku Valley, a thin veil of fog covering the hills and houses of the hinterland – his work is steeped in the ethos of rural culture of Andhra Pradesh with Nature playing a big role. The canvas radiates tranquillity. “Village life and Nature have always been the subjects that I drew my inspiration from. There is so much colour and rhythm in the cultures of rural India,” says the artist, who grew up in a village near Anandapuram. His fascination for rural India took him on several solo trips to Andhra – Odisha border near Araku where he spent his days with the tribal communities, observing their way of life. “My canvases reflect the beauty of these pristine regions,” he explains. Amongst Vasu’s recent prominent works is the imposing mural of Telugu Thalli that adorns the wall of the heritage wing of the newly-openedPalm Beach Hotel – Andhra Art and Craft Hotel. Taking inspiration from stalwarts like Damerla Rama Rao and Rembrandt, Vasu has a distinct style of the village and tribal culture. His work was also displayed at India Art Festival held recently in New Delhi along with 500 artists. The artist is currently working on a tribal series for solo shows.