Over 20 paintings occupy the walls of Ayya Art Galleries on Woods Road in Royapettah. The paintings are vibrant and each of them looks capable of charming connoisseurs of art. Yet, they have stayed on these walls for the last two years, for want of buyers.
The gallery owner’s sudden death two years ago is said to be the reason. Following the demise of Kanalan Raja, due to brain tumour, the gallery has not witnessed any art exhibition, resulting in an unsold stock of paintings.
In 2004, when Kanalan started the gallery, it was a vibrant space for artists, art lovers and buyers.
His brother Raj Kumar and a few friends now plan to conduct exhibitions at the gallery by inviting artists to showcase their works.
“None of the art works sourced two years ago has been sold. The gallery is running at a loss. We get a few orders for framing and nothing else,” says Raj Kumar, who lives in Nagercoil.
Kanalan came to the city over two decades ago and tried his hand in the chit fund business. When the business floundered, a friend encouraged Kanalan to take up the photo framing business. That led to the birth of the gallery. Later, Kanalan expanded the business, conducting art exhibitions.
“My brother was good at building contacts and he roped in many established and upcoming artistes in a short span. It did fairly well and he opened a centre at Nagercoil in 2008,” says Raj Kumar.
From a humble beginning, the gallery hosted many solo and group shows and even participated in ‘Art Chennai 2011’.
“Not many local people have established an art gallery in the city. Ayya Art Gallery encouraged many local talents to showcase their works, especially students from Fine Arts College and Stella Maris. For someone without any art background, he made a good job of collaborating with galleries in the other metros,” says N.S. Manohar, former principal, Government College of Fine Arts.
Raj Kumar will soon be visiting the city to get in touch with the artists who had worked with Kanalan. Jesus Morris Ravi, Kanalan’s friend and a resident of Chennai, will help Raj Kumar in the revival work. For details, call 9443335511, 9841037810
