Art on metal that’s here to stay

Saravanan S, an engineer-cum-artist, is displaying a collection of paintings and metal reliefs in his latest exhibition. One of India’s very few repoussé artists, whereby he shapes metal to create designs in low relief by hammering from the reverse side, he says he chose this form of art to preserve its dying presence.

His current series titled ‘Dream’ focuses on tribal hamlets in India and when asked why he chose them as his muse, the artist says, “Because they’re not materialistic and it fascinates me how they survive with the bare minimum. Whenever I’d travel to hill stations in the country, I’d make it a point to visit Adivasi settlements and observe their behaviour, movements and faces, which I wished to capture through art.” He decided to title the series so, because he imagined what an Adivasi woman might dream about during her spare time — the birds, bees and sun, perhaps?

As for the medium, “My father would tell me about this art form on metal, where shapes come to life on copper, for instance, by hammering from the reverse side. I found I was fascinated with it because once a painting is done on metal, it stays that way for life unlike on canvas that fades after a point,” he says. First, a design is drawn on paper using dots, it is placed on a metal sheet that’s fixed onto a firm board. Repoussé work is done using hammers and tools so the pattern forms on the reverse side, then, it is turned around and fixed upon another board. Using enamel colours he fills in the details, uses heat treatment so the metal and paint fuse and finally provides an anodized copper or silver-plated copper finish.

He’s often so involved in this rigorous process that he doesn’t realise if hours go by. “Art is a form of meditation for me so when I enter my studio, people know they’re not supposed to disturb me — only if I take art seriously will others take me seriously,” he quips.  From a little boy who used to accompany his father to his studio, to now becoming internationally renowned, Saravanan feels he’s certainly come a long way. “My initial exposure to painting was because of my father M Senathipathi, who has been associated with the Cholamandal Artists’ Village since the Madras Art Movement. I would accompany him to the centre every day and observe him and many other artists at work, so I got inspired by the best,” he says. As time progressed, he fell in love with fine arts so much that he began painting without dad’s knowledge — “He wanted me to study first and paint only during my spare time. One day, he found my collection and ever since, he’s been my guru,” he signs off.