Art should be made accessible to all

Visakhapatnam: A mother breastfeeding her child has been impressively carved on a pencil lead and this miniature wonder is just 5 mm wide and 12 mm long. Ahead of Mother's Day on May 12, Gattem Venkatesh, an architecture graduate from GITAM dedicates this piece of art to his mother. Opting to express his unconditional love for his mom through art, the miniature artist, who has 400-odd artworks in his kitty, has come up with another masterpiece.

From onion peels to glass bangles, toothpicks to matchsticks and straws, Venkatesh can weave magic with anything that others would not even spare a second glance. "My passion for artwork began when I was in Class X. With a surgical blade and a needle, I would spend hours creating small wonders," he recalls.

Venkatesh's collection of miniature marvels won him laurels from various quarters. His creation of Empire State Building on an 18-mm long toothpick fetched him a place in Guinness World of Records. In addition to bagging several awards such as Rajiv Gandhi Excellence Award and Bharat Gaurav Award, his works also made him break a number of records, including India Book of Records, Book of State Records and Limca Book of Records.

Recalling his meeting with former President of India Pranab Mukherjee, Venkatesh says, "It was an unforgettable moment for me."Explaining the support of his parents, the artist says, "My parents G Suri Babu, a farmer, and Satyavathi, a homemaker, encourage me to do what I aspire to do.

I think this is one of the reasons I could explore in the creative world indicating that not many parents in today's score-driven world give a push to their wards to do what they dream of." He says that being an architecture student aided him to expand his horizons in the field of art.

His venture Venkey Arts showcases his collection designed over the past nine years. He believes that art should be made accessible to all irrespective of one's economic background. "I come from Chinadoddigallu, a village at Nakkapalli mandal. I can relate well with those who experience financial constraint to pursue a hobby.

That is why I ensure to visit rural villages and offer training in art to students free of cost," he says. Next, Venkatesh plans to reach out to students of government schools at Nakkapalli mandal and surrounding areas to provide them training in art and craft.