Srikala Gangi Reddy is from the IT background and on an impulse, one day, decided she wanted to become an artist.
“I have always loved to enjoy a certain freedom in all that I do. I was into drawing. But painting started only when I started working in the IT sector,” recalls Srikala. “One day I stumbled upon a lovely place -- a bungalow and saw a group of artists sitting under a tree and painting. I was mesmerised by their work and instantly knew this is what I wanted to do.”
Her first show is titled
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“It’s a confluence of my journey too as an artist, nurtured and shaped by Sameena Sharif and K.S. Sharif at the Expression School of Fine Arts.”
Later Srikala visited Nrityagram and says she was allowed to view the rehearsals of Odissi dancers Surupa Sen and Bijayini Satpathy. “I felt connected with their work. This is my way of representing their dedication, passion and aesthetics of their dance,” explains Srikala.
Though she believes one has to have a basic skill of drawing, she feels that this talent has to be “nurtured so that proper skills are developed. I spent a lot of time with the two dancers and they have a busy schedule. Once I knew what I wanted to do I took some of their still photographs as a point of reference. They practise for hours to perfect a particular dance. I too wanted to offer that perfection through my works,” adds this artist, whose show will feature about 30 works of different sizes in acrylic, charcoal and oil on canvas works.
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Why dancers? “I am not a dancer but my association with them is that of an artiste. You see art also includes music, sculpture and dance. For me art is about how I associate myself as a person who is also pursuing a passion to keep a particular art form alive.”
Which is more challenging? Creating something from your heart or painting from a photograph? She replies: “Both have their challenges and disadvantages. When I create a work I let my feelings flow and blend. It’s a very transformational, impulsive and the work grows right on the canvas in front of your eyes. But with this series the art work is orchestrated. There’s an aura about their posture and dance that I needed to capture and recreate on my canvas, which is already has a defined controlled grace.”
She has absolutely no regrets giving up the IT sector. “It feeds the mind. But its art that feeds my heart and soul. While the former had a certainty about the kind of job and money, now I have to create something new every time.”
The artworks will be on display at the Art Centre, No 1, MG Mall from March 26-29, 2015 from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.