Profile of Sreenivas Reddy Mutyam
Born in 1970 in Andhra Pradesh, India.
Graduated in BFA in the year 1994 from JNTU College of Fine Arts, Hyderabad
and MFA in the year 1996 from University of Hyderabad.
“For me art has been an emotional involvement. There is very little external reality which excite me to paint, but my inner reality is full of strange happiness and experiences which I have tried to depict in my paintings. Characters in my paintings express my deep anxiety towards the daily events in my surroundings.
My work speaks about Indianness and its environment. They reflects antiquity (Indian Art forms like Ajanta, Ellora, Lepakshi and etc.,). These works shows clearly my inner experiences that are personified.
I use Yellow for spiritual wisdom and happiness. I believe that it also represents creation and glory of Sun. Black, Brown sand Indian Red appear to me as Gods and Goddesses in the Temples.”
ART OF EXPRESSION
The stage is set for a single actor. The man, the artist, Is set to play many roles.
A freezed moment holds in its posture and stance manifold nuances. Suggestions of play-leela, intermingle with yoga asanas, mime, drama, temple sculpture, martial and dance postures. These forms of a single man set against a plain background conjure Indian as well as Greco-Roman postures. Their dark toned skins set against ochre's create a sanctified arena, the postures and expressions giving way to diverse moods. We have a personified expression in a sacred field.
A decisive moment which ends a long emotional journey, a moment where time comes to a halt, when a verdict is finalized after intense action of play, war, love or hatred. Realities are sanctified in these moments. The finale is economized into a posture. The red glow against dark skins are like ambers of fired coal. They seem to create a stillness that comes after a stormy session with the self. The penetrating moment or a counter posture evokes an answer to a long standing question.
Elements like playing a flute, releasing an arrow, warrior, peacock posture, speech held midway, conjure poetics in a body language, that forwards his joy or anguish, embodying archetype imagery. Hands and legs with red glow, the gaze of the slant eye, bright yellow against the dark skin intensifies the mood. The yellow dots on the chest and the red spots on the cheeks have a mandala like mapping that tries to sanctify these moments.
The girls are more at peace in their subdued emotions, call up the Ajanta female and the nayika of Indian miniatures.
The artist effectively freezes larger than life theatrics. in their poetic stances. Yet they symbolize a personal enquiry of ones realities. The corporal body language mixes with psychological/emotional states. Also references from many arts like drama, dance, yoga and temple sculptures vitalise personal experiences with efficiency.
Dr. Avani Rao Gandra
(Art Critic)