The last time we met Maredu Ramu a few years ago, the youngster was fresh from college and bursting with emotions. While a meditative Buddha that occupied his colourscape, the artist’s journey had just begun and he was yet to find a narrative. Now, his canvas has widened and he seems to have mellowed down.
A solo exhibition of his works at Beyond Coffee, Jubilee Hills leaves him content. “Exhibitions at galleries are held for a shorter duration and quite often people cannot visit galleries due to lack of time. But at a coffee shop, it is not necessary for the artist to be present; the work is good, it gets appreciated and stays in people’s memory,” he points out.
On the walls of the cafe are his abstract landscapes. “I don’t have a message or story to tell through my works,” he smiles and adds that his works comment on contemporary issues. One of his works is a landscape of Madhapur, where he lives and has seen a 360-degree transformation. “Earlier it was an area of greenery and rocks, the cityscape has changed completely.” he shares. Another work depicts a street with billboards. With a flyover in the middle, the canvas portrays different billboard messages — a Bata discount, a religious meeting, and we-miss-you Sridevi messsage from fans. “These hoardings are powerful and one cannot miss them. I do not have a language to convey. If we say Telangana art, one can depict people talking or working in fields or their culture. I paint on situations and am inspired by the happenings around me. I also have different elements like birds and a concrete in my canvas, ” he shares.
Coming from an agriculture background, Ramu admits he was a novice when he came to Hyderabad in 2001. After a stint as a signboard artist, he worked with Laxma Goud and Thota Vaikuntam and gained practical experience. Formal art education helped him discover art galleries and how artists create and sell their works. “I felt close to modern art. Figuratives have a limited appeal; people remember them only for a few days. Modern art is timely but even if one revisits the painting after many years, it seems relevant. It helps you raise many questions and find answers.”
His landscape series is a riot of colours with a different perspective. “The difference between me and other artists is the way we choose colours,” he shares.
Ramu hopes to create canvases inspired by his own situations and surroundings. While the search is on, he is all geared up to give his best shot.
