‘Colours and Rhythm’ showcases works of two self-taught artists

Nagpur: An exhibition of two self-taught artists Hemant Manmode and Vinod Kaple of their artwork got underway at Jawaharlal Darda Art gallery on Friday. The expo will conclude on Sunday.
Titled ‘Colours and Rhythm’, the exhibition is showcasing more than 130 paintings by the duo which they have painted over the past five years. “I have been sketching for many years and it is now that I feel I can increase the size and add some colour to the artwork,” said Manmode, who is exhibiting a series of 25 paintings done on paper with ink.

“My inspirations come from various poems and stories that I have read and once I sit down to paint the images develop,” says Manmode, who is exhibiting his art for the first time and has been an artist and illustrator for many news dailies and magazines.

“His ten paintings on canvas using acrylic colours speak of his improved skills. “These are an extension of the sketches which are in only black ink and have a dab of yellow colour,” he adds. His paintings depict abstract forms etched out diligently and differentiated through the use of various colours.

Vinod Kaple, who has been painting since the past 35 years and works at a cooperative bank, says his forte is portraits and he is inspired by mythological figures. His eye for detail and a steady hand shows in the portraits of Rani Laxmibai and that of Lord Rama holding the injured mythological bird Jatayu and they attract instant attention. Among the ninety paintings that he is displaying there are also many 1”x1” frames carrying paintings of flowers and leaves.

“My portraits are done using oils and are expensive and time consuming as it takes more than a month to finish them,” says Kaple, who usually makes the smaller ones which sell fast.

“I run a library of sorts of my paintings at one of the corporate offices in the city. Every month I give them ten small paintings which are replaced with the previous ones and I am paid an honorarium which provides me enough to pursue my art,” he says.

Both artists say that though they have no professional training, they keep updating and experimenting with their styles and forms.