Artist Sarath KS employs different techniques like two-way art to describe his subjects picked up from his surroundings. He spoke to Trisha Mukherjee
While some might sympathise or feel pity for underprivileged kids peeping in a classroom, artist Sarath KS chooses to see the happiness they seek in their freedom and he paints that on his canvas.
Sarath, whose works reflect an element of opposites and paradoxes, said, “Through my paintings, I wish to give life another dimension and change the perspective of viewing things.”
Thirty paintings will be on display at the artist’s solo exhibition titled Rush of life from May 23 to 27 at Art Spice Gallery. The artist looks out for an extraordinary facet in the ordinary lives of people who surround him. His paintings are inspired by nature and people, their lives, aspirations and thoughts. “Whatever is an inspiration, I paint,” he added.
Sarath, who has tried his hands on a variety of art forms, has lately settled on working with thin colour and oil. Abstract art, as the name suggests, “is a combination of images that are difficult to recognise” and the interpretation is left to the viewer’s imagination, “while semi-abstract is more surreal. I love the component of realism in art. A work of art that is able to define a particular subject or idea interests me more,” explained Sarath.
Sarath has worked on canvasses of varied sizes. From the standard size of 1.6’X2.2’ to the huge ones, 5’X4.5’, he has experimented with all. His approach towards the two is, however, different. “For larger and complicated artworks, I begin with the preliminary sketch after I have constructed the idea in my mind. The smaller ones do not require any construction of idea but the process involves certain steps through which a relation between the main subject and the surrounding environment is established,” said Sarath.
Most of his works feature children, largely underprivileged. Showing children at work, a lot of these paintings seem to focus on the issue of child labour. “Children are able to strike the emotional chord in the viewers like no one else. The image of a child evokes a sense of sympathy and the idea is conveyed more effectively,” said the artist.
Sarath has introduced a new form of art which he calls two-way art. Two-way art is a kind of art work, “in which two different ideas are shown together by changing the arrangement or alignment of work,” informed Sarath.
Rush of life seeks to put across the dynamic nature of life through a series of paintings, which capture life in action. “Nothing is static. Everything is in motion. Paintings that will be on display will capture people’s actions,” said Sarath.