Advocate sheds rulebook, sketches eccentric historic faces with abandon

Artist Sithara Sarangan had always been interested in portraits, ever since started sketching at the age of 11. “Aikamatka translates to time travel in Finnish. When I started sketching, I was interested in those personalities who were eccentric, but were interesting. 

For instance, the exhibition features 24 portraits of personalities like Frank Sinatra, Bob Marley, Louis Armstrong, artists Frida Kahlo, Salvador Dali, MS Subbulakshmi and even Indian freedom fighter Aruna Asif Ali,” said the 24-year-old self-taught artist. 

During the recently-concluded four-day exhibition, inaugurated by Police Commissioner AK Viswanathan and artist Thota Tharrani, Sarangan wanted to introduce the visitors to the personalities in a warm manner. 

“I created a playlist of the famous works of the musicians that I have displayed – which not many people know about these days. Many of the youngsters who visited the exhibition said that they discovered a new world of music. The response was good, and I have sold around seven of my works,” said the artist, who is also an advocate. The theme of time travel is irresistable to this artist. 

“I love vintage art, music and I love history and reading about the past. So, I wanted to create work that resonated with this  vibe,” she added. Sarangan also said that she was attracted to art due to the absolute lack of rules. 

“As an advocate, I have to go by the book. But as an artist, I don’t have to follow rules – I live in a parallel universe. That is what drew me to art in the first place. I could relate to them because they broke stereotypes and made immense contributions,” she said.