Important Notice

The present lot by Thota Vaikuntam is a departure from his best-known subjects-the people of rural Telangana. Though missing from the scene, the canvas resounds with their presence; the bright colours of the figure’s clothes, the painted forehead and manner of ornamentation adorning its feet, neck and hands recall the garb of the people of the artist’s native village. His fascination with traditional Telangana jewellery can be traced back to... The present lot by Thota Vaikuntam is a departure from his best-known subjects-the people of rural Telangana. Though missing from the scene, the canvas resounds with their presence; the bright colours of the figure’s clothes, the painted forehead and manner of ornamentation adorning its feet, neck and hands recall the garb of the people of the artist’s native village. His fascination with traditional Telangana jewellery can be traced back to when, as a child, his mother’s jewellery compelled him to paint. He says of this influence, “I’m a villager, not a city man. Maybe because my childhood memory clings to my roots. I’ve taken from my people in Telangana. I draw them. I take my colours from them. I’ve taken details from their everyday lives, stylized them, and made them look grand. That’s my intention.” (Artist quoted in Thota Vaikuntam: A Celebration, Mumbai: Saffronart and New Delhi: Aleph Book Company in association with Namtech Fine Art, 2022, p. 38)

Apart from their adornment and bright colouring, Vaikuntam creates striking figures by placing them against a stark background devoid of details. His voluminous sculptures thus take on a life of their own and their visual voluminosity impresses itself upon the viewer.

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