Inspired by his celebrated father, the late Batik Balaiya, the artist’s new collection depicts rural life and heritage monuments.
Yasla Prakash is experiencing a mix of emotions. Though thrilled that her new exhibition ‘Reflections of Telangana on Batik’ has opened at Rabindra Bharati in Hyderabad, it is during this special moment that she remembers her late father, the great batik artist Yesla Balaiah.
Affectionately called ‘Batik Balaiya’, Yasala, who passed away in December 2020, was known for his lively entertainers of stories on Telangana rural life in Batik. “I miss the lively discussions we used to have on themes, pictures and how we can modernize art to take it to the youth. Maa Nana Chattu Needlo Memu Perigamu (My father was a giant tree under whose shade we grew up),” says Prakash.
Explaining his fascination with batik, Prakash says, “Batik is unique in that it uses dye-resistant wax to create various patterns and designs.” Prakash’s last show was in 2018 at the ICCR Art Gallery. He began work on this current series of artworks in July 2021 with a focus on not only highlighting the rural life of Telangana but also showcasing its historical monuments. Now, around 35 works of 3×2 and 4×3 feet, submitted by the state’s Department of Culture and Languages, spread the batik boom in the corridors of Rabindra Bharati.
Rural Life
The simplicity and beauty of rural life comes alive in Prakash’s works. A farmer playing the flute, a couple dancing and a woman looking in the mirror in her traditional dress depict rural Telangana.
What stands out from the collection is Prakash’s series on horses. In contrast to the traditional brown, red, yellow and black colors, the artist has experimented with blue and white. “The subject matter is contemporary and is rarely tried in batik. We are used to sketching in rural life, which is easy for us, but when experimenting with subjects, we have to make sure that the texture does not miss out on the batik beauty ,” he says.
The artist, who works as an art teacher at Gurukulam Tribal Welfare School, plans to explore the theme of horses in more works and eventually organize a solo show on it. Meanwhile, he still follows his father’s mantra in life. “He used to tell us to work hard and not think about the result. Results may come later, but persistence and commitment to the arts is what matters.”
‘Reflections of Telangana on Batik is going on in Rabindra Bharati till 14th February. artifacts cost 15.000 onwards.
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