ONE ARTIST TRIPLE STREAMS

Over the last two decades, Chandramohan Kulkarni has created for himself and his art a distinct place in the sphere of book illustrations in Maralhi. His illustrations and calligraphy is marked by an alluring imaginative flair and sensitivity in the play of lively swinging lines that captivate the eye.

Chandramohan is interested in evolving novel stylistic graces for his different themes of illustrations- for the illustrations of Shakespeare's world famous romantic play Romeo and Juliet, he has excelled in lining craftsmanship which is meaningful and spell-binding. It is creation in the finest sense of the term. The striking features of these are the flowing dresses of the characters, their innocence and earnest feelings, their freely curling hair styles and telling expressions on their faces which are brought out with the minimum of dots and lines. All this is exquisite. The figures of Romeo and Juliet are so tender and their love is so innocent and pathetic that it inevitably foreshadows their ultimate violent end which is almost a sacrifice for each other. The two Veronian noble households are properly depicted. The famous scene in the balcony is so touching and it is done with an economy of lines and fulness of grief. Finally Juliet dies with a faithful dagger in her heart. This is perhaps the ultimate in aching beauty and graphic art.

Another love story from the East that of Paro and Devdas who drowns and sacrifices his love in a frenzy of drinks is done in more elaborate but equally exquisite manner. Devdas is adoring his childhood sweetheart Paro and becoming more and more desperate because he is unable to get her hand in marriage. She pines for him and wishes to meet him morning and evening. Devdas responds that he remembers her with every breath that he takes. All the altering stages in this immemorable love story filled with longing and pining, drinking and remembering and sacrificing come alive with sadness in Chandramohan's haunting lines.

The first stream consists of a set of four paintings called loss of childhood. The second one consists of a set of seven paintings called Male and Female, basic principles of universe, 'Prakruti and Punish' not merely man and woman but having a wider connotation embracing the duality of the universe. The style of these paintings is richly individual, the figures are massive and miniature and colours pure and violent and aggressive vermilion.

M.D.Hatkanangaleka