Artist Anuradha Thakur talks about the importance of color in her works, Rang Kaala and happiness from her subject
Listed as one of the 100 women of the country by the Ministry of Women and Child Development (Arts and Culture Category) in 2016, Anuradha Thakur started painting 22 years after graduating from Arts College in Pune. Even though he earned a bachelor’s degree in fine arts, abstract art—the only subject offered by the college in 1982—did not appeal to him. Artists from Ahmednagar, Maharashtra are in Hyderabad for a 10-day show titled Serene Ecstasy at the Park Hyatt. She explains, “It’s not that I disliked abstract art, I just couldn’t work on abstraction myself. Instead, I started working with NGOs on art projects for kids. And this, in turn, took me to various tribal settlements in India and introduced me to a group of people, their lifestyle and customs which are not observed every day.”
One of his paintings titled ‘Ethnic Serendipity’ has found a place in the Prime Minister’s Office. She adds, “It is a joyous painting of a group of tribal people of Gujarat dancing.”
ethnic seriousness
For more than 30 years, Anuradha has worked with the Institute of Health Management, Pachod (IHMP) with children in 70 villages to bring about qualitative development and behavior change in them.
In 2003, Anuradha landed in the tribal village of Gadchiroli in Maharashtra during one such work with an NGO called SEARCH. She was fascinated by his simple and happy life. “All these years I was the safest place. Unlike other tribal people, the people of Gadchiroli do not wear much jewellery. Their way of life was love and contentment. After spending a week in the village, I found the beautiful life of the people. I felt the urge to paint; that’s where my journey as an artist began,” she says.
The USP of Anuradha’s paintings is black and white, with multiple colors. Even though black stands out, no one color dominates his work. Why did he choose black and white to depict the life of the tribal people? “They are just like that – black and white, there is no pretense in them. The colors are used to show off her fashion sense with a lot of focus on the jewelery she wears,” she explains.
Anuradha not only adorns her female figures with jewellery, men also use jewellery. “That is the reality. In some tribal cultures, men also wear some jewellery,” she smiles.
She adds, “My dark complexion does not signify sadness; I use color to show people who are happy, energetic and strong.” Anuradha has traveled to Maharashtra, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Jammu, Himachal Pradesh and remote parts of Assam, Nagaland and Meghalaya.
His works will be on display at the Park Hyatt until July 5.