Enduring Epics : Indian Art Series

Raghupathi Bhat’s drawings and paintings appear in a meditative streak and petite renderings. They bring alive the pantheons, characters and episodes from Ramayana, Bhagavad Gita, Upanishads and other works of classical and folk literature. The artist’s fascination with nature comes through in compositions featuring layered imagery- flora and fauna, the sun and the moon, and other cosmic symbols alongside mythological characters. Large crowds are featured within a small space of paper in austere but effective sketches some in pen, others in a subtle palette made out of organic material. An expanse of Ganjifa work, (intricate paintings on small playing cards), have earned him the honorary title Ganjifa Raghupathi Bhat. He has mastered the art of painting metaphysical themes in stick figures with sharp pointed features as against the traditional highly ornate voluptuous forms. The artist is based in Mysore and is currently working on the restoration of old paintings in the Palace there.