A date with nature

Kalakriti Art Gallery recently showcased an art exhibition ‘An Appointment with Nature’ by bureaucrat Rakesh Agarwal, Additional Chief Secretary (Backward classes & Minority Development Department), Madhya Pradesh.

A self-taught artist Rakesh shared, “I have learnt from the great masters, I mean I read books on their techniques, biographies and do my research, and I develop my art.”

His work involved a lot of travel and that helped observe nature, which has been his muse. “Painting is my hobby; I love nature and so I mostly paint landscapes-mountains, rivers, trees, flowers, sea-side etc. and this has been my persistent theme. I paint on the spot from a camera shot or inspired by master artists,” shares Agarwal.

“I have been painting since 20 years. For 3-4 years I have been working on my paintings. It is only since the past six-months that I am displaying the works that I have done in the past one year at different places. This is the first time I exhibited in Hyderabad,” he adds.

Agarwal is also an avid photographer as well. His photographs are on display at the RCVP Noronha Academy of Administration, Bhopal. A solo photography exhibition was organised by him at Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Manav Sangrahalaya, Bhopal.

Rakesh Agarwal likes to work with watercolours as he feels that the medium is powerful and hence helps him to express his feelings. “Watercolour can be effectively used to represent the artistic vision on a piece of paper.”

Despite being busy with administrative duties, it is his passion that drives him to find time for his hobby, and he is looking forward to take up painting as a fulltime vocation after his retirement.

By:Askari Jaffer