Wunderkind set to make a mark in the art scene

Six-year-old Koosu, grandson of veteran actress Jamuna and son of artist Sravanthi, is all set to have his first exhibition of paintings.

Studying at Hillside School, Koosu is presently on a short break from his other interests: learning classical dance form of Perini Siva Tandavam from his guru Kala Krishna. Also, he has a blue belt in taekwondo.

Koosu started off with his first painting, which he titled ‘Mata-Putra’, at the age of three on one of his mother's canvases. Most of his paintings have a theme. “His first one,” he says, “was intended as the idea of a mother delivering a son and buying him toys.”

When the Sravanthi’s ‘Jago Stree’ exhibition was held in 2012, Koosu mulled over his mother’s ideas and gave his own interpretations on feminist issues. Acutely observant, he likes to meld together what he learns at school in unusual yet meaningful combinations. A school subject, the life cycle of the butterfly was adapted into a painting. Reading about Greek mythology and seeing the film ‘Clash of the Titans’ resulted in a series of four to five works on this subject.

Cartoons are another source of inspiration. In technique, he is very original, using brushes and painting knives to even household implements like a butter knife to create the desired effect. A mop brush is his favourite. He likes to experiment with sponges and rollers for varied textures. The marbled effect is enchanting. He doesn’t like to be disturbed while working and likes to select his own subjects without interference.

In the last two months Koosu finished work on fifteen paintings. He has tackled topical subjects like pollution depicting its effects abstractly. A painting with alternating haloes of pink and grey surrounding each other spreading out grimly is meant to show the turning of a human into a zombie due to pollution.

It is interesting to know that the young artist has sold quite a number of his works. He has come a long way from a three and a half-year-old who took a painting to an art exhibition and offered it for sale. Rs 200 was the sum quoted. He is now stealing away a number of his mother’s clients who appreciate his bold colour patterns and insightful works. He now sells two or three works a month.

Koosu is dedicating the upcoming show to his grandfather, who passed away recently. The exhibition will be held at Muse Art Gallery on December 5.