Tryst with art

The Padma Shri awardee Laxma Goud is recognised in the art circles for his powerful works in various mediums talks about his early beginnings as an artist and on recovering the Akademi

He is like the soft walnut, which protects itself with a hard shell of the harsh realities of life. He sometimes talks like a child and narrates stories to make us all understand that art is as simple as a ‘prayer’ with complete dedication unless anyone thinks otherwise. That’s K Laxma Goud, who was recently awarded the Padma Shri.

Attributing his success to his teachers, he states, “I was very fortunate to get the guidance and support of two huge pillars of art in my life – KG Subramanyan and Jagdish Mittal.” Having studied at School of Art in Hyderabad, Laxma Goud then went to Baroda in search of a seat in the prestigious MS University, where he chanced upon meeting KG Subramanyan.

“He frankly told me that there was no chance of a formal admission at the university. This was based on his assessment of my skills and knowledge in art at that time; my communication abilities and many other factors that he assessed in our long talk. Just when I was getting disappointed, KG Subramanyan offered me a ‘non-college’ assignment, which I grabbed without hesitation.”

Thus, he says, began his tryst with ‘the temple of art’ that was the Baroda School of Art. He was surrounded by giants like NS Bendre and KGSubramanian, who were change-makers in the realm of art in India. “KG Subramanyan literally chiseled every thought process of mine in the art. But all the hard work does not mean I did not have my share of fun.

We worked hard and had a gala time at the so-called ‘intellectual adda meetings’,” shares the artist, who burnt the midnight oil many times. Recalling his struggles after returning to Hyderabad, he explains that it was like living in a garage or on the footpath. “I had the courage and conviction to write to the then secretary of Lalit Kala Akademi demanding for a ‘print machine’ so that a student like me who went on the Akademi scholarship to Baroda would not remain an ‘abandoned child’ of the Akademi,” he reveals. Shortly after, a machine was installed at the temporary studio set up in the premises of PT Reddy.

Of Jagdish Mittal, he tells of an opportunity to do Batik work with him. “Mittalji provided me with the required tools like the pen nib, wax and other material. I started off with my work in a small shed,” he says.
Art can be inspired by past practices and living traditions. It further seeks to absorb and amalgamate the strong decorative elements of tribal and folk arts.

“I still have a big treasure of art, waiting to come out of my mind and body. After all, what is art and where does it come from? Maybe from the potter I observed in my village. Here was a potter, who knew exactly how many mounds of clay to pick at a time to make a perfect score of 10 pots. He was humming some portions of the Ramayana when at work. It was sheer fascination,” Laxma Goud reminisces. Such experiences strengthened his resolve to always be true to his work.

The artist who has worked with a wide array of mediums such as painting, etching, sculptures, terracotta and more has a word of advice worth holding onto – “The work may vary from time to time, but the determination and dedication must never ever be in doubt.” His zeal is evident even as he continues to work in the field. “For me, work is worship.

Awards may be important, but are truly incidental. My wife and children know my commitment and my needs in the art field. They understand the rigours of life in art and have always been silent supporters and also quite vocal at times. They have always been with me, in all the good and bad times of life,” he acknowledges smilingly.

Striving to revive the Lalit Kala Akademi in Telangana, “Today, my top priority is to ensure that the Government of Telangana and the Central Government work fast to revive it. Only the establishment of a full fledged Akademi will bring a ray of hope for the young talent in the state. They need a space of their own - publications, workshops, seminars and scholarships, which would keep them motivated and provide equal opportunities without any bias or favour,” he adds in conclusion.