Thiruvananthapuram: It brought a glow to Mohammed Matty’s face, when he said that it was his fourth
painting exhibition in four years. The works exhibited at Museum Auditorium here explores light and reflection in varied hues.
The exhibition is titled ‘Adayalangal’ and fifty paintings in acrylic are on display. These works were completed in the past two years with left hand as Matty doesn’t have a right arm.
Amidst ridicule from fellow classmates in school, Matty first found relief in colours and canvas while in Class III.
While his friends went to play games, he devoted his time to painting. His interest in art led him to join University of Fine Arts, Kozhikode and he started an advertising company, after completing the course.
“In 2013, I got the job as a clerk in Vengara panchayat office. Office work kept me busy and I could not dedicate time for painting for a few years. Understanding my interest in painting, my daughter Riya, a Class IV student, suggested that I become a full-time artist. That is how I returned to the world of colours,” said Matty.
Most of the paintings are of the places he had visited. There are paintings of Alappuzha boat house, Kuttikkanam, Angadipuram temple in Malappuram, Athirapally waterfalls and Ooty. The dark shades dominating the paintings indicate his interest to paint during night.
“I like to paint during the quiet hours, mostly late night. It has reflected in my work also. It was a suggestion from my friend to work on the theme ‘light’,” said Matty.
Speaking about his disability, he said that being disabled was a label given by society out of sympathy. “We do not seek sympathy, instead we want acceptance. I realized that I did not need the help of others and hate to depend on anyone,” added Matty.
The exhibition will conclude on Sunday.
