Page 395 - Manifest September 2024

Colours

of Culture

by Thota

Vaikuntam

Born in 1942 in Boorugupali, Andhra Pradesh, acclaimed
artist Thota Vaikuntam is best known for vibrant
paintings inspired by the daily lives of rural folk. In 1970,
he received his diploma in painting from the College
of Fine Arts and Architecture, Hyderabad and won the
Lalit Kala Akademi Fellowship from Maharaja Sayajirao
University of Baroda in the following year, studying under
the guidance of renowned artist K. G. Subramanyan.
As a child, Vaikuntam was fascinated by the
impersonation of women characters by male theater
artists in his village. The impact of these performances
and the folk culture surrounding him in his everyday
life is evident in his paintings. He is associated with the
usage of rich primary colours which add strength and
character to the figures. He also drew inspiration from
women, particularly strong maternal figures. Later,
as his creative vision expanded, the figures started
including teachers, priests, farmers, and labourers. The
colourful poetic paintings with bold lines and intricate
brush strokes delve into rural themes and subjects of
Telangana, his native.
The artist’s first solo exhibition was held at the Kala
Bhavan in Hyderabad in 1973. After this, his works were
regularly exhibited in Hyderabad, Kolkata, New Delhi,
Bangalore, and Mumbai. Many of his works were also
showcased abroad including the UK, the US, Seoul, and
Hong Kong.
Vaikuntam earned many prestigious awards including
the Biennale Award, Bharat Bhavan, Bhopal, 1988, the
National Film Award for Best Art Direction for the film
‘Daasi’ directed by B. Narsing Rao in 1988, the National
Award for Painting from the Government of India in 1993.