The Acclaimed Artist, Chairperson of the Raja Ravi Varma Foundation and Great-great Granddaughter of Raja Ravi Varma Speaks to Hello! And Sheds New Light on the Life and Times of the Famous 19th Century Painter Ahead of the Launch of Her Book on Him Titled, Hidden Truth
You are the custodian of a grand heritage. What does it mean to carry on the legacy of your great-great-grandfather, Raja Ravi Varma?
“Carrying on the legacy of my great-great grandfather is something that comes naturally to me. You see, when a child is born in Kilimanoor, the first question that is asked when the child is around four or five is – ‘Does he or she draw?’ This is the question uppermost in the mind of the elders and this is the question Raja Ravi Varma’s daughter, Mangalabai asked when I met her at the Kilimanoor Palace when I was just seven-years-old. Continuing the tradition or art and being a custodian of his heritage just came naturally to me. I remember, from when I was a very young child, I was always drawing. I think I learnt to draw first and write later. But more than just drawing, I was attracted to colour and that is what Ravi Varma was known for – his sense of colour. He gave colour a new dimension and concept. His art is eternal due to his perfect use of colour and colour mixing. Now when I look back at what I have been doing over the past years, I find that carrying on my great-great grandfather’s legacy is the most exciting thing. Like he concentrated on colour and skin tone I have tried to reinterpret what he did, giving it my own unique perspective, while keeping alive the techniques and methods he used. I am not doing exactly what he was doing, but improvising and bringing out work that has evolved from his style of work. I want to take forward his legacy to another level.”
Did the atmosphere at home inspire art, quite naturally?
This story is from the March 2018 edition of Hello! India.
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This story is from the March 2018 edition of Hello! India.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
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