Artist Kandi Narsimlu pours life to lost rural cultures
A solo show by Kandi Narsimlu, known for his intricate paintings of life in Telangana villages, is on at Kadari Art Gallery till December 2
Hyderabad: “Telangana has a very rich culture and I want to bring it all to my paintings,” says Telangana-based artist Kandi Narsimlu who is now known for his minimalistic artwork depicting the day-to-day lives of rural people of Telangana.
Belonging to a village close to Siddipet, Narsimlu grew passionate about art since his childhood. “I always knew I wanted to pursue art. During my schooling and intermediate days, I would take up small art jobs like drawing rangolis in front of houses, painting hoardings and names behind cycles to earn pocket money. Then, I got to know about an art course being offered at JNAFAU and so moved to Hyderabad,” Narsimlu shares.
With time, art became a medium for Narsimlu to share the richness and unique cultures of his village prominently through the intricate details of their regular clothing – which include the patterns of dresses that are worn by men and women in the village, details of a man either holding an umbrella or a ‘beedi’ in their hand, women wearing ‘thali bottu’ and hanging safety pins and house keys in their chains, and also how the tiffin box used by villagers had their names carved on them for identification.
“My paintings are all an expression of life in Telangana villages. They are all details that I observed since my childhood and thus could replicate them with such detailing. Also, through my art, I want to remind people of several cultures that have now been forgotten or simply don’t exist anymore. Like a few tools which were used before the emergence of electricity in villages, some small items used regularly by many like ‘chekkudi sanchi’ (money purse) which is used by several rural women,” Narsimlu shares.
On why he chose minimalistic style of painting using vertical lines and curves, Narsimlu shares that he wants to depict the simplicity and innocence that villages carry in an authentic style. “Over the years of being associated with various fields in art, I have understood that the simpler it is, the better. Thus, my paintings are quite uniform with simple expressions as I want to focus on what I am depicting through the art work,” the artist shares.
Narsimlu’s artworks which have been well-received by many in the Telugu State. Also, actors like Lakshmi Manchu, Chiranjeevi, Mohan Babu; badminton star PV Sindhu, and TRS MP Kalvakuntla Kavitha and many more have Narsimlu’s artworks hanging on their walls. In addition, a huge artwork by Narsimlu has been used as a décor in the newly-built Hyderabad International Terminal.
Currently, the artist’s solo show is on at Kadari Art Gallery Jubilee Hills till December 2.
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