For some, art is a hobby. For some, it is a means of sustenance. For P. Gunasekaran it is a source of life. “I only know to draw. If you take art away from me I will die,” he says.
His use of imagery is deep rooted in symbols. For example, his painting of Nataraja brings the Trishul to the fore emphasizing shakthi. In fine strokes, he establishes his calibre as a painter.
Guna journeys deep into the world of abstraction and liberally uses different geometrical forms in his art works. His collection of paintings adorns several galleries across the country including the Lalit Kala Akademi in Chennai.
He hails from a humble background. His father Pandi, who retired from Tuticorin Port Trust, was also interested in drawing. “His drawings of coconut trees were my first inspiration. I probably got the genes from him and over the years art became a temptation hard to resist,” says Guna.
In school, Guna’s drawing master Abraham first spotted his talent and took him to various competitions. The second prize Guna won in a State-level drawing competition when he was in eighth standard gave him the confidence to choose art as a career. “Till then I never knew the importance of participating in competitions. But after that I began to take art more seriously,” he says.
Glancing over the Korean comic book he got as a prize, he was astonished to see the colour schemes. “The cobalt blue, dark red and green colours of the dragon caught my attention and I started using crayons, water and poster colours.” he says.
Help came a second time when his school senior Joe Bhai who too was adept in drawing and would draw pictures on the black board during annual day and other important school functions. “He passed on the mantle to me and my drawings became popular in school,” he recalls.
Though he got admission in Aditanar College and also in Palayamkottai ITI, Guna chose to the Government College of Fine Arts in Chennai because more than 2,000 students competed for 100 seats and he got one and joined as a hosteller.
“Ragging was a rage those days. My experience of being ragged made me stay from the hostel. Daily after college I would walk long distances along the Marina and Elliot Beach and return to the hostel late night to avoid my senior,” he says. “The walks helped me in a different way. I started observing people and took note of incidents on the way,” he adds.
Guna shaped his intuitive abilities on the streets of Chennai. He made friends with professional signboard artists when he was out of the hostel. “Though my seniors ragged me, they also took me to the field and introduced me to Tanjore, and glass painting.”
Professor Arul Arasan was his first guru. He taught Guna different sequences and encouraged him to draw more. “He taught me how to wield the brush while painting the hair. I learned to paint portraits, still life and landscape and also did a lot of outdoor painting visiting Mahabalipuram and Kovalam,” he says.
While his master Chandrasekaran taught him how to capture movements, from Prof.Easter Raj he learnt to control light source. They also helped him promote and sell his paintings. It was also the time when he was introduced to the world of cinema.
From a last bencher in the first year of college, he came out as the best outgoing student. Guna’s sincerity and dedication to art were promptly acknowledged both in and outside the college. He got an animator’s job with a company but went on to join the Lalit Kala Akademi in Chennai to equip himself better. Four and a half years at the akademi made him an expert in model making, moulding and casting. He followed it up with a Masters degree in Fine Arts.
Guna perfected the art of shading applying different concepts in his works while working as an assistant professor in the Department of Visual Communications of The American College.
The 2004 tsunami in Chennai still haunts him as he lost most of his paintings in that disaster. “I could not retrieve my paintings. I only have photographs of my works for record sake,” he laments.
Guna believes in objective art. The thirst for knowledge drives him to scout for places and spaces where he can be on his own.
