The southern part of India boasts of luscious nature — the sea, backwaters, paddy fields, plantations — and colourful rituals. The rich and vibrant culture of South India also reflects in the unique festivals each state celebrates.
Some of the prominent colours of South India’s temples and traditions include red, gold, white, yellow, green. and blue with each symbolising power, prosperity, purity, knowledge, growth, and divinity.
This is exactly what Chennai-based artist Tinku Sunil has portrayed in his art collection that he’s showcasing in his first-ever exhibition at Kitchener City Hall’s Berlin Tower Artspace in Canada.
Titled, ‘Colours of India’, the exhibit will feature his intricate painting styles that focus on the abundance of colours and patterns.
Opportunity of a lifetime
On display in January and February this year, Tinku (39), calls this opportunity “a dream come true”.
The Berlin Tower Artspace is home to a variety of exhibits annually, showcasing community arts and culture. It is located in the City of Kitchener building, where the government officials of Kitchener are seated.
How the organisers of Artspace found out about Tinku’s works is a story worth telling.
“A lot of events happen at this community building,” Tinku shares. “During one such celebration that I attended, I saw some really niche artworks on display and was thoroughly impressed. The next day, I called them up and asked if they could offer me a volunteering opportunity as I love art. I felt like I needed to help out in these events and give back to the community.”
Turns out, the organiser was on a lookout for a young and budding artist to display their work at the Artspace. “When I told them I love art, their immediate question was whether I make art. And I innocently said that I train people but have not learnt art professionally.”
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That day, Tinku went back home and looked for some “decent” drawing samples. “They loved it,” he recalls. “They offered me an opportunity to display my art. And I laughed! Turns out, they were serious.”
Out of the 26 artworks Tinku has exhibited, two have been sold. But he isn’t feeling let down by the number. “My aim was never to sell art. I just want the world to see what I create,” he says.
Pursuing the arts
Tinku’s roots are in Andhra Pradesh, but he was born and brought up in Chennai. An electronic engineer from Dr MGR University, Tinku has also pursued a master’s degree in human resource management from Pune’s Symbiosis Institute.
His first job was at Cognizant, where he dedicated 14 years of his life. But amid the conventional career choice and corporate chaos, when did the art bug bite him, we wonder.
“Nobody has ever asked me that,” he laughs and continues. “I was always interested in arts and media as a child. I remember my neighbour’s daughters who would go to a dance school to learn Bharatanatyam and Kuchipudi. I would happily tag along. As my interest in the dance forms grew, my mother suggested that I enrol.”
But a couple of years later, Tinku opted out of dance school. His parents — father who worked as a quality inspector at India Pistons Limited and a homemaker mother — could no longer afford to pay the fees.
His mother, however, gave him great life advice: If you are passionate about something, you can always learn it yourself.
And so, Tinku would use the old TV set-up at his Chennai home to continue learning classical dancing. His mother’s advice set the ball rolling for his artistic journey.
The beginning of a colourful dream
“I was also always good at drawing. I realised I had the skill when all my diagrams and designs for Science were appreciated by my peers in school and college. But I couldn’t make a career out of it as I needed to have a stable job to fend for my family,” he confesses.
“I took my passion for arts and media to Cognizant, where I led several events, decorated sets for in-house cultural functions, and even taught drawing and craft to school children as part of the company’s CSR activity.”
Tinku moved to Canada in 2018 and currently lives in Kitchener city. He’s employed at RBC Bank as a senior manager and no, Tinku hasn’t traded his canvas for a corporate career.
“In early 2020, the Artspace organisers offered me a one-year deadline to exhibit my artworks. But then the pandemic hit and my wife came in from India. We had a baby and it became difficult to juggle personal life, a full-time job, and at the same time, prepare for the exhibition in 2021,” recalls Tinku.
So, he got an extention till 2023. “This is my year,” he chuckles, adding that the exhibition kicked off 2023 with his artworks.
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Colours of South India
On display are several pieces that are an ode to South India. The traditional kolam art is drawn with a mixture of red and white colours. Its origin is in ancient Tamil Nadu — known as Tamilakam — and has since spread to the other southern Indian states.
Another gorgeous piece is the ornate gopura (entrance of a Hindu temple). Blended with vibrant colours, this drawing is a tribute to South Indian architecture. A gopura is usually constructed with an enormous stone base and a superstructure of brick and support. They are topped by the kalasam (a finial typically placed atop the towers of Hindu temples).
Other works include a kalamkari-style peacock, painted in hues of white and blue. “I wanted to create things that reflect the beauty of my homeland.”
Tinku’s most favourite is the Kalinga Narthana Krishna. Kalinga Narthana literally means ‘Kalinga dance’ in Sanskrit, and it refers to a popular mythological story in which Lord Krishna, as a young boy, danced on the serpent Kaliya to stop him from poisoning River Yamuna.
This painting is priced at 1,700 Canadian dollars.
“Artists usually pick what they want to draw first and then paint the piece with colours. I do the reverse. First, I picked my colours that are a tribute to South India. And then, I did research on what stories I want to take from India to Canada. Then I drew them,” says Tinku.
A good show
The response to Tinku’s works has been incredible.
He has received a number of calls congratulating him and thanking him for motivating others in the community to exhibit their artworks as well.
But amid a large community of emerging artists in Kitchener, how does Tinku’s style stand apart?
Many of the paintings on display are created by using a unique method, which he has perfected. He uses a toothpick as his primary painting tool.
Each painting took anywhere between three weeks to three months to be completed!
So what is next for Tinku? “Quite miraculously, I received a call to display my artworks at the OCAD University in Toronto. It is a public art university that has art summits every year. I am honoured to get a chance to participate in it this year,” he smiles.
