An Interaction with Artist
Venugopal H.S.
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| Acrylic on Canvas |
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| Acrylic on Canvas 90cm x 120cm |
During late 70s and early 80s, the Garden City, Bengaluru, was more beautiful and serene with less traffic, and no hustle and bustle. Life was slow and peaceful. One could hear the birds’ chirping and feel the cool wind brushing against the skin as one walked down the footpaths. At that time, art scenario in Bengaluru was slowly shifting and opening to new trends. A few galleries had come up and were trying to create a platform for artists. The art schools in the city were maximizing their efforts to provide best exposure to students. It was at that time our friend Venugopal H.S decided to join an art school.
Venugopal
H.S is a Bengaluru based artist. For the last five decades, he has been
into visual art field, consistently practicing printmaking and painting. To
pursue a career in art, he joined Ken School of Art, Bengaluru, which widened
his horizon and crystalized his determination to further his studies, under the
guidance of eminent artist R.M.Hadpad,
who had a contemporary outlook. The years spent at Ken school were very
fruitful. Half way the through the
course, to pursue art studies in Baroda, Venugopal joined to Diploma course at M.S.University,Baroda, one of the premiere institutions in India. In the proximity
of the faculty of the department, his perceptions and practice were moulded and
refined. Eminent artists like Jyoti Bhatt, Gulam Mohammed Sheik, and Neelima Sheik
had great influence – teaching and practicing art in Baroda School had shifted
from formal modernism to social engagement, narrative and conceptualism.
Greater emphasis and interest in Art History, Criticism, Aesthetics,
Literature, and Philosophy created an intellectual environment. The environment
of the campus had a lasting impact on the young mind of Venugopal. His works
done during that period reflect those characteristics.
On
coming back, he got a job in higher secondary school as art teacher, in
Bengaluru. As teaching demanded dedication and time, he could not afford much
time for his art practice. After completing twenty nine years of teaching, to
engage more with his art practice, he took voluntary retirement. At school, he
was a popular teacher for his teaching and narrating stories. Having lots time
on his hand now, he has been practicing with all the zeal of a youngster and
showcasing his works in major cities.
Large tree trunks, roots, vast landscapes with
boulders, devoid of human figures, interest him greatly – he desires to explore
the beauty and intricacies of nature through his paintings.
His endearing smile befriends everyone, but at
the same time he is quite outspoken and candid. He is interested in literature,
films and plays, and this interdisciplinary interest has enriched his practice.
Welcome to our Artist Interview series. I am delighted to invite senior artist Venugopal H.S whose works invite viewers to experience art through
a unique perspective. Thank you for joining and sharing your experience.
Childhood
is an important phase in one’s life. We all cherish the memories of childhood. How did your childhood days shape your earliest creativity?
I grew up as an ordinary
boy. My father H.G. Shamarao, taught at a government primary school in
Vidyanagar, near Bengaluru. Adjacent to the school was a teacher training
institute, the vibrant wall paintings in its prayer hall are where my love for
art first began… I would watch those drawings for hours and try to recreate
them in my own style , though I did not know back then that it was my passion.
The mountains and nature around my village inspired me too… I grew up climbing
those hills, surrounded by the beauty of nature. Friendsand teachers at school
noticed I was good at drawing and that encouraged me to enter a few
competitions, I even won a few prizes along the way.
At that time, Ken school was very famous and lots of activities
were going on. I think you are lucky to have been mentored by R.M. Hadpad sir. What was your experience at Ken school of art?
with R.M.Hadpad Sir ( second row,seventh from left) and class mates, at Ken School,Bengaluru
I am the 6th among 8 children to my parents. By the time I reached PUC, my father had retired so I could not pursue studies further. After I returned to my native place, Vidya Nagar - I met Shri Mahalingachar, he was a drawing teacher at the teacher training institute and I began learning under him, just as a hobby. He saw my drawings and suggested me to join Ken School. I forgot about it until years later at Sheshadripuram, when I saw the Ken School board! I went in and asked someone at the office about admissions. He asked me to bring a parent. Later I realized that person was none other than renowned Shri Hadpadh Sir himself. It was a great blessing to be his student. My father enrolled me there and that marked the beginning of my journey at Ken School. He inspired me immensely. Until then, I had never been exposed to the North Karnataka dialect even his way of speaking was new to me. When we could not afford supplies, he provided them and pushed us to work harder. Sir never allowed us to be idle. Living there felt like being in a Gurukula.. we all juniors and seniors learned together, with no partiality at all. I consider myself very fortunate to have had the company of my seniors such as JMS Mani, Suresh, Ramdas, Sham, Tapashetty etc. I learned so much just by observing them watching them work filled me with a competitive spirit and pushed me to improve. Every evening master used to have discussions with us on new topics, in the beginning i did not understand much. Hadpadh master was the driving force at Ken School he made us feel like the school belonged to us like Ken was truly ours!
As I know, Hadpad sir was inviting litterateurs, theater and film
personalities, and musicians to school, for interactions. How have literature, film and theater added to your creative journey?
In my early student days I used to draw strong characters from literature later when I gained technical knowledge of art, literature and theatre, it slowly shaped my visual composition. things like dividing foreground and background, the use of shapes and form, light and shadow.
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| Ahalya and.... Open-Bite Etching &Aquatint 36cm x48cm |
The way poet K.S. Narasimhaswamy portrays the delicate emotions of females in his poems deeply inspired me also based on the women personalities from our epic have always been a source of inspiration for my work.
To have better art education, a
number of art students from Bangalore, Mysore and Kalburgi went to Shantiniketan
and Baroda in early 80s. How
did art education at Baroda broaden your vision?
Yes, education at the Faculty of Fine Arts
gave me a whole new vision. At Ken School, though we worked on a variety of
topics our learning was mostly through teacher demonstrations. But at Baroda, our skills and knowledge
were upgraded through our own practice and library facility. We classmates had
the freedom to discuss and critique each other’s work. We were given space to
develop our own skills and ideas. The faculty acted as a supportive, presence
in the background but they did not rely on demonstration.
After coming from Baroda, You got a job in high school. Our readers
are interested to know your experience as teacher.
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| A study for students |
As higher secondary school
teacher, my focus was always on nurturing children’s creativity. I ensured that
I never imposed my own style of work on them. Also tried my own experiments
such as grouping children based on their understanding and mental capacity.
Have encouraged my students to take part in several inter school competitions, conducted
many workshops and organized exhibitions of their artwork to develop their
interest in art as a result of this approach, the children gained confidence
and developed their skills. Today, even though they are in different
professions, many still practice art.
I have been seeing your work regularly. Large canvases with trunks and roots. Very interesting!
How do you connect yourself to nature as
your most of the paintings are based on it?
There is lot of difference between print making and painting. You
studied print making in Baroda. What is your experience as print maker and painter?
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| Litho Print 30x37 cm |
As a printmaker, I was very
enthusiastic about learning the medium at Baroda, exploring various graphic techniques was
essential for me. The discipline of using limited colours, tones and creating strong, impactful
prints stayed with me. It influenced the process of my painting I started using
minimal colour and that restraint became my own unique style. A kind of signature
that people now identify with me.
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| Etching &Aquatint print 9cm |
With the encouragement of
renowned artist Shri K.K. Hebbar I received a state academy scholarship
to study at Baroda. I went there with great excitement - knowing only Kannada
language at that time. The practical entrance test was never a problem for me,
but due to the language barrier, I could not clear the written test. My name
did not appear in the first list and I was heart
broken. I shared this with B.V. Suresh. He spoke to Shri K.G. Subramanyam and sent me to his
chamber. I went in nervous and scared. I could not speak
properly; he just took my sketchbook, looked at my work and said Ja Ja,
gesturing for me to go. I thought I had ruined it. But later, K.G. sir told
Suresh that my practical work was good and I would get a seat. And I did! my
name came in the second list. Soon after, he was transferred to Shantiniketan. Most of the college
teaching faculty and students gathered at the railway station to bid him
farewell. It was an incredibly heart touching moment and one I will never
forget!
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| Acrylic on Canvas 60x90cm |
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| Acrylic on Canvas 20x30cm |
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| Acrylic & Charcoal on Cloth 60cm x108cm |
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