Thiruvananthapuram: An artist’s reflections on Kali

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: According to B D Dethan, the distance that every good piece of art should traverse to reach greatness lies in how far it can haunt the viewer.
The artist’s name too is one that haunts art enthusiast circles, as the creator of Kali, a series of pen and ink drawings which became the subject of much dialogue and discussion in 1995. The artist, who has not once put down his brush in 60 years, now presents his first solo exhibition three years after the pandemic struck. At Kaliyum Kaalavum, held at Vyloppily Samskrithi Bhavan, Dethan makes a comeback to the arena with art that completes his vision for his famous series, Kali.
It was Kudallur Achuthan, the celebrated visual artist, who suggested that the Kali series should be made into full-fledged paintings. “I wanted something new rather than tracing out the same designs onto the canvas. One good thing about the pandemic was that I had much time to think more about Kaliyuga and put my thoughts to canvas,” says Dethan. But it was not all about the yuga that he wanted to express. “I believe compassion is the root of all other emotions in a human mind. But eventually, it will dry out like a brook in summer. We will be reduced to animals possessed by spirits, eating its own kind,” he explains about the theme.
Even after being honoured with prestigious awards like the Kerala Lalithakala Academy award (1969-75) and the Raja Ravi Varma award (2019), Dethan is still an artist who does not stick to a single style for long. “I cannot do without experimentation. My identity as an artist should never be confined to one style,” he affirms.
Home is Dethan’s paradise, where he follows his inner muse. Even on his busiest days, he sets aside four to five hours for painting. He is adamant about the fact that nothing should ever distract him from his creative process. “I am a person with no political or religious affiliations. I indulge in art not because I am eyeing fame and accolades but because I simply want to paint,” he adds. His only advice to the younger generation of artists is also the same, “To never lose yourself in the process, to never run behind trends.”
The exhibition is from 11am to 7pm and will conclude on Wednesday.