Eight manifestations of Goddess Lakshmi took birth when eight housewives from different backgrounds came together out of their love of mural painting. Ideally named as 'Ashtalakshmi,' the ongoing painting exhibition at Lalithakala Academy Art Gallery in Kozhikode also presents various other paintings done by these eight artists.
For the last four years, these eight housewives were learning mural painting while fulfilling their domestic duties and responsibilities.
The eight artists behind 'Ashtalakshmi' are MK Indira (Ramanattukara), Janitha Madhavan (Kozhikode), Geetha Vasudevan (Kovoor), Sumana Sreenivasan (Kozhikode), Dr K A Sujatha (Thamarassery), Rani Surendran (Thiruvanoor), Priya Shyam (Kozhikode) and N M Jisha (Kakodi). They learnt mural painting from Oisca Kalakshetra under the guidance of artist Sathish Thayat.
The first picture on display at the mural painting expo is of Lord Ganesa writing down the epic Mahabaratha that is being recited by sage poet Vyasa. The Ganesa is fully green and was done by the eight artists together.
Maha Lakshmi, Dhana Lakshmi, Dhanya Lakshmi, Gaja Lakshmi, Santana Lakshmi, Dhairya Lakshmi, Vijaya Lakshmi and Vidya Lakshmi are the eight avatars of Goddess Lakshmi depicted by the budding mural pianters.
Conforming to the traditional art style of mural painting, yellow colour is given primacy in these paintings.
Hanuman, Dancing Ganesa, Subramanian, Krishna and Kuchela, Alilakannan, Kalyana Sougandhikam, Mayoora Sandesham, Mohini, Panchaganapati, Krishna and Radha, Shiva-Parvati are some of the other paintings in the expo.
The exhibition was inaugurated by artist Madanan and it will conclude on April 29.
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