If India could proudly claim its own impressionistic tradition in fine art, the first artist that comes to mind is Surya Prakash, based in Hyderabad. Born in 1940, he is renowned for his nature series, where his deep connection with nature is expressed through color and perspective. His works resonate with audiences worldwide across all age groups, offering pure bliss in the appreciation of nature’s beauty.
Surya Prakash describes his paintings as celebrations of nature, space, light, and color. He draws from a visual vocabulary that is subtle, sensuous, and calming. The idealistic and dreamy quality of his color choices, their combinations, and their application to the canvas is a hallmark of his style.
A master of pointillism, Surya Prakash employs a meticulous technique of applying dots with his brush, which demands considerable time, patience, and determination. Each dot contributes to the overall perspective and harmony of colors, creating a rich tapestry of tonal gradations. Through these tiny points, he achieves a wide array of tones and hues, utilizing colors like greens, oranges, reds, yellows, purples, and blues to craft harmonious images. The tonal values remain intact, with each dot revealing a distinct color value, giving his work a blend of realism and fantasy.
His layer-by-layer approach maintains clarity in each dot and color while ensuring precise registration of tonal values. The effective use of screens and meticulous attention to size and scale enhance the perspective created by his colors and tones.
With a palette of 45 colors, Surya Prakash’s serigraphs have garnered numerous awards, including accolades from Printweek India, FESPA, and national competitions. His works have been showcased at esteemed venues such as the India Triennale and the Paris Biennale. In recognition of his artistic contributions, he was honored with the title “Kala Vibhushan” by the All India Fine Arts and Crafts Society in New Delhi. Sadly, the artist passed away in 2019. Surya Prakash’s artworks evoke the rasa of shanta.
Photos and Text © Chaitya Dhanvi Shah
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