The intricate designs on the wood cuts at the entrance of the mini hall welcome the connoisseur to the exhibition of art works by T. Srilalitha at the Visakhapatnam Public Library. The 60-odd works, based on the theme of goddess Lalitha Devi, on display also include etchings and water colours.
The highlight of the expo is the 3’ X 3’ wood carving of the mother goddess.
This work exhibited inside the hall, on the wall above the stage, is sure to catch the attention of the visitors. From a distance, it looks like a plain painting of the goddess. But, a closer look reveals that the ‘Sahasra Mamas’ (1,000 names of the goddess) are carved to make Her outline. The text and namas complete the picture.
“During my childhood, my mother used to give me palm leaf dolls and used to say that the 16 dolls represented 15 ‘thithis’ and the 16th Ammavaru (goddess). I used to be influenced by the ‘thataku roopam (palm leaf depiction) of the goddess and thus began my journey. I used to be deeply influenced by the works of the goddess and it has left a lasting impression on my mind,” says Ms. T. Srilalitha.
Solo expo
After completing her BFA and MFA (Bachelor/Master of Fine Arts) from Andhra University in 2016, she put her thoughts into the art works. “The 60 works you see here are a reflection of those thoughts,” she says.
“This is my fourth solo expo, the first was the ‘itinerant pilgrim’, which is in a way my life’s journey. These works are a portrayal of the relationship of a man and wife, which again is based on the goddess and on divinity. The second solo expo was on ‘Infinite grace’ on the miracles of Shri Shirdi Sai Baba, and the third was on ‘tatva masi’ (silence),” she explains.
She made a water colour painting of her mother Eranki Padmavathi, who sowed the seeds of the Mother Goddess in her, and a poem dedicated to her own mother as also the mother goddess. Both the works are on display at the expo. She also displayed the 16 colourful palm leaf dolls of the Goddess.
“I used special carving tools and it took me one whole month to complete 3’ X 3’ wood cut work of the goddess. All the 60 works took me about a year,” she adds.
The four-day exhibition-cum-sale will conclude on Monday.
