A self-made artist, Kandi Narsimlu has a keen eye for the often missed nuances of human emotion and expression.

Hailing from Kaslabad, Medak District in Telangana, he is committed to documenting the everyday life and culture of the people of his family and village through his figurative paintings in brilliant hues. Having come up in life the hard way, he has a very grounded approach to art and gives the folk and rural themes of his paintings a decidedly contemporary touch. From rural landscapes to locals, Kandi Narsimlu displays a delicate style of showing the expressions, clothes, jewellery and lifestyle of his subjects. www.artflute.c

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Documenting The Village: Art, Joy and the Everyday

a Science drew me to artMy interest in art began very unexpectedly with the drawings that I had to do for my science class. A teacher discovered my talent and I always found myself more interested in drawing and painting than in pursuing my studies. By the time I was in the tenth grade, I was painting signboards and had become a signboard artist. It was when a journalist who came upon my drawings and micro paintings, (which were published in papers) asked me whether I had studied fine arts that I figured I could pursue an education in the arts.

A young Kandi Narsimlu with one of his earliest artworks www.artflute.c

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I was confused by the many styles of art..

The vocabulary and language of fine arts and the various styles I learned about left me quite confused. I wasn’t sure which of the styles I identified with and what I should be pursuing. Cubism, modernism, western art, Indian art and more were all options I considered but once I finished my graduation and went back to my village and watched them do what they do, I realized that art can begin at home. Since the culture I come from was the one I knew best, I decided to make it the subject of my art. www.artflute.c

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Going Back to the Roots

I returned to my village and began sketching. Watercolour and paper were what I used most at the time because I did not have the money to buy art supplies (materials). Despite approaching many art galleries to show my works, I did not receive a very encouraging response. To earn a living, I began working for an animation studio while keeping my weekends free to paint.

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My Turning PointThe minimalist lines and spare style that is typical of animation influenced my paintings too. The geometric style that appear frequently in my works are a reflection of that part of my career. Eventually, a gallery in Hyderabad decided to showcase my art and also uploaded them on their website. The very next day, I received my very first enquiry which subsequently became my first sale. This turned out to be a turning point for me because it gave my art a sense of value. There was no more looking back for me and I decided to become a full-time artist right then.www.artflute.c

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My Mission

I believe that my mission is to document the story of my community and tell their stories. I use art to keep the culture of the community alive and this is what I see as my biggest motivating force. I am often told that there is a depth in my paintings and this is only because these are my people and this is my culture. Painting my culture gives me a lot of joy and satisfaction.

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Why I use the colours that I do..

The village has many local deities and each god has different coloured skin. I see the people of the village as being simple and I really see the face of spirit reflected in them. That’s why I like using various colours to depict the villagers’ faces. I deliberately do not mix colours or use texturing too much because I believe that the simplicity reflects the kind of people my subjects are.

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My village is where I feel at home.

It is funny thinking of myself as an artist because people back in my village as well as my parents don’t really understand what I do. Since I also take a lot of photos each time I visit the village, the people there sometimes think that I am a photographer. However, when I am back in my village I feel immense joy and comfort in talking to my old friends, in listening to the tales of the villagers and watching life go on there.

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I listen to old Hindi and Telugu songs on the radio in my studio. This relaxes me and calms my mind which is always working through the various possible compositions and details to do with the painting I am working on. Whenever I feel a creative block come on, all I need to do is head back to the village. I listen to old people and their conversations, the gossip, the simplicity of the people there and my creativity comes flowing back. From the way an old lady holds her chin while she relates her neighbour’s fight to chatting with my old friends, everything there feels like home.

The village is fodder for my creativity

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Documenting history as it happens

Modernity is reaching the village too and my painting is also documenting that. Whether it is mobile phones, vehicles, television, cool drinks or sweaters, the ways of the people in the village are changing. Perhaps after 25 years or so, my paintings will be the only testimony to how life used to be like in this village.

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