Vaikuntam

BIOGRAPHY

Thota Vaikuntam hails from Andhra Pradesh, in South India, and finds his inspiration in the rural areas of the state. Men and women of his village are often the central characters of his work. Telangana women, in particular, are frequent subjects for his works. The obsession can be traced back to his childhood, when he used to be fascinated by the male artists who used to impersonate female characters in the travelling theatre groups that performed in his village.

In an interview with Saffronart, the artist explains his early apprehensions when it came to art. “…In private I began sketching images which were very Indian, but which I thought were quite shocking. I hid them from public eye, because I thought they were very sexual.”

Vaikuntam’s art has a sense of strength to it, a power that emanates from the paint or charcoal that he applies to the surface, from his controlled lines, and from the fine strokes that he executes. As he explains, “I like using rich primary colours, which give a sense of character and depth to my paintings. Like reds and saffron and even orange, because these are essentially Indian colours. I don't like using colours that are a mix of two, because they are not natural, they don't exist in surroundings around us, in our everyday life”.

Education

  • 1971-72 Painting and Printmaking, Faculty of Fine Arts, Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda.(On a Lalit Kala Academy Fellowship from Andhra Pradesh)
  • 1965-70 Diploma in Painting, College of Fine Arts and Architecture, Hyderabad

    • Exhibitions

    Selected Solo Exhibitions

  • 2011 'Memoire du passé 1979-1999', Latitude 28, New Delhi
  • 2011 'Metamorphosis: The Changing World of Thota Vaikuntam', Art Alive Gallery, New Delhi
  • 2009-10 'Saffron.Vermilion.Turmeric', Indigo Blue Art, Singapore
  • 2007 ‘Yes, I am He’, organized by India Fine Art, India Fine Art, Jehangir Art Gallery, Mumbai
  • 2007 ‘Telangana: Inheritance of a Dream Lost’, Art Alive, New Delhi
  • 2006 ‘Mukham’, Sanskriti Art Gallery, Kolkata
  • 2005 ‘Telangana Men and Women’, Arts India, California
  • 2005 ‘Naupu Telupu’, India Fine Art, Mumbai
  • 2005 ‘Retrospective Show’, Art Alive Gallery, New Delhi, London
  • 2004 Kuhu Art Gallery, London
  • 2003 ‘Larger Than Life – Vaikuntam’s Women’, Arts India, New York and The Guild, Mumbai
  • 2003 ‘Portraits’, Guild Art Gallery, Mumbai
  • 2001 ‘Memories of Telangana’, Sama, New Delhi
  • 2000 ‘Mother’, Guild Art Gallery, Mumbai
  • 1999 Gallery 678, New York
  • 1998 ‘My Telangana Images’, Mumbai
  • 1998 ‘Vision and Response’, Renaissance, Bangalore
  • 1996 Surya Gallery, Hyderabad
  • 1996 The Guild Art Gallery, Mumbai
  • 1995-97 New Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Hyderabad
  • 1994-95 Crimson Gallery, Bangalore
  • 1994-95 I.T.C . Welcome Group, Hyderabad
  • 1994 Surya Gallery, Hyderabad and Gallerie 88, Kolkata
  • 1992 Gallery Kufa, London
  • 1992 Kessel, Chennai and Mumbai
  • 1991 Gallery Espace, New Delhi
  • 1990 Cymroza Art Gallery, Mumbai
  • 1988-89 Max Mueller Bhavan, Hyderabad and Grindlays Bank Gallery, Chennai
  • 1985 Show of Drawings, Kala Bhavan, Hyderabad
  • 1982-83 Hyderabad Art Society, Hyderabad
  • 1980 Exhibition of Charcoal Drawings on Mother Series, Kala Bhavan, Hyderabad
  • 1978 Exhibition of Ink and Wash drawings, Kala Bhavan, Hyderabad
  • 1978 Exhibition of Prints, Alliance Francaise, Bangalore
  • 1975-77 Ink Drawings, Kala Bhavan, Hyderabad
  • 1974 One-Man Show of Small Drawings, Hyderabad Art Society, Hyderabad
  • 1972-73 Kala Bhavan, Hyderabad

    Selected Group Exhibitions

  • 2011 'Adbhutam: Rasa in Indian Art', Centre of International Modern Art(CIMA), Kolkata
  • 2011 'Aureus 2011', Gallerie Nvya, New Delhi
  • 2010-11 'Figure/Landscape: Part Two', Aicon Gallery, London
  • 2010 'Figure/Landscape: Part One', Aicon Gallery, New York
  • 2010 'The Living Insignia', Gallery Ensign, New Delhi
  • 2010 'Modern Folk: The Folk Art Roots of the Modernist Avant-Garde', Aicon Gallery, New York
  • 2010 'Black is Beautiful', India Fine Art, Mumbai
  • 2009 'Entity', in association with Asian Academy of Film & Television at M.E.C. Art Gallery, New Delhi
  • 2009 'The Root of Everything', Gallery Mementos, Bangalore
  • 2009 Gallery Space, Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh
  • 2008 'Stellar Configuration', presented by Vinnyasa Premier Art Gallery, Chennai at Jehangir Art Gallery, Mumbai
  • 2008 'Post Independence Masters', Aicon Gallery, New York
  • 2008 ‘Freedom 2008 : Sixty Years After Indian Independence’, Centre for International Modern Art (CIMA), Kolkata
  • 2008 ‘Pravah’, Art Pilgrim, New Delhi
  • 2007 ‘Serigraphs’, Presented by Archer Graphic Studio at Tao Art Gallery, Mumbai
  • 2007 'Rising Of The Phoneix: A Tribute To Livelihood', Hasta Gallery, Hyderabad
  • 2007 'Self and the Selfless', Hasta Gallery, Hyderabad
  • 2007 ‘The Workshop’, India Fine Art, Mumbai
  • 2006 'Drawing Show an Act of Art II', Priyasri Art Gallery, Mumbai
  • 2006 Opening Show, India Fine Art, Mumbai
  • 2006 ‘6 Artists Show’, 1 x 1 Gallery, Dubai
  • 2006 Opening Show, Arts Pilgrim, London
  • 2005 ‘Evoking Rasa in Luminous Visions - Indian Art’, Worcester Art Museum, Worcester, MA
  • 2005 ‘Divine Inspiration’, India Fine Art, Mumbai
  • 2004 ‘Confluence’, Arts India, California
  • 2003 ‘Faces’, Art Alive, New Delhi
  • 2003 Kuhu Art Gallery, London
  • 2003 ‘Hyderabad with Love’, India Fine Art, Hyderabad, Mumbai
  • 2002 ‘Tradition and Change’, Arts India, New York
  • 2001 ‘A Panorama of Indian Contemporary Art’, Art Circle, The Guild
  • 2000 ‘Dubai / Creative 2000
  • 2000 Menaz Art Gallery
  • 2000 Faces Design Art, Dubai
  • 2000 ‘Ignition’, Crimson Art Gallery, Mumbai
  • 2000 ‘Mask’, Dhoomimal Art Gallery, New Delhi
  • 1999 Sans Tache, Mumbai
  • 1999 Birla Academy of Art and Culture, Mumbai
  • 1999 Gallery Ganesha, New Delhi
  • 1998 Group Show in Singapore
  • 1998 Threshold, Vishakapatnam
  • 1998 ‘Tempera’, Art Today, New Delhi
  • 1998 Gallery Ganesha, New Delhi
  • 1998 Birla Academy of Art and Culture, Mumbai
  • 1997 Gallery Ganesha, New Delhi
  • 1996 ‘Chamatkara – Myth and Magic in Indian Art’, Whitley’s Art Gallery, London
  • 1995 Art for CRY, Mumbai
  • 1995 Gallery Ganesha, New Delhi
  • 1995 Gallerie 88, Kolkata
  • 1995 Autumn Exhibition, All India Fine Art and Crafts Society (AIFACS), New Delhi
  • 1995 Surya Gallery, Hyderabad
  • 1995 ‘Woman’, organized by The Gallery, Singapore, Hong Kong
  • 1994-95 ‘Contemporary Miniatures’, Centre of International Modern Art (CIMA) Gallery, Kolkata
  • 1994 ‘Art in Miniature Form’, Renaissance, Bangalore
  • 1994 Gallery Ganesha, New Delhi
  • 1994 ‘India Encounter II’, Lee Arthur Studio, New York
  • 1993 Anniversary Exhibition, Gallery 88, Kolkata
  • 1993 Academy of Fine Arts, Kolkata
  • 1993 Summer Show, The Gallery, Chennai
  • 1993 Birla Academy of Art and Culture Silver Jubilee Exhibition, Mumbai
  • 1993 ‘Wide Angle’, Sarla Art Centre, Bangalore
  • 1992 Sansriti Art Gallery, Kolkata
  • 1992 Summer Show, Hyderabad
  • 1992 Help Age India, Jehangir Art Gallery, Mumbai
  • 1992 Art Encounter, Kessel
  • 1992 Gallerie 88, Bangalore
  • 1992 Shraddha Saharpan, Jehangir Art Gallery, Mumbai
  • 1991 ‘Images of Rural India’, Max Mueller Bhavan, Hyderabad
  • 1991 ‘The Collectors Choice’, Society for Promotion of Art, Hyderabad
  • 1991 Gallery Espace, New Delhi
  • 1990 ‘Five Artists’, L. V. Prasad Eye Institute and CCMB Science Institute, Hyderabad
  • 1990 Sarla Art Gallery, Bangalore
  • 1990 The Gallery, Chennai
  • 1988-89 Salar Jung Museum, Hyderabad
  • 1989 Max Mueller Bhavan, Hyderabad

    • Participations

  • 2011 'Ethos V: Indian Art Through the Lens of History (1900 to 1980), Indigo Blue Art, Singapore
  • 2010 'Master’s Corner', organized by Indian Contemporary Art Journal at Jehangir Art Gallery, Mumbai; India International Art Fair, New Delhi
  • 2010 'Contemporary Printmaking In India', presented by Priyasri Art Gallery, Mumbai at Jehangir Art Gallery, Mumbai; Priyasri Art Gallery, Mumbai
  • 2010 'Summer Show 2010', Centre of International Modern Art (CIMA), Kolkata
  • 2009 'Entity', Annual Exhibition, M.E.C Art Gallery, New Delhi
  • 2007 17th Anniversary Show, Gallery Sanskriti, Kolkata
  • 2007 ‘Summer Show 2007’, Centre for International Modern Art (CIMA), Kolkata
  • 2006 ‘CIMA Annual 2006’, Centre for International Modern Art (CIMA), Kolkata
  • 1995 6th Anniversary Exhibition, Gallery Ganesha, New Delhi
  • 1994 1st Anniversary Exhibition, Surya Gallery, Hyderabad
  • 1991 7th Triennale, India
  • 1988-89 Biennale, Bharat Bhavan, Bhopal