We have reiterated time and again that art knows no bounds. From sculptors using wool and hair to artists using ketchup and blood to create portraits, creators around the world have established that, even before it reaches our senses, beauty resides in the mind. The physicality of it, then, is purely a manifestation of what already dwells in the corners of our genius. Indian artist DaVinchi Suresh, often called ‘Da Vinci’ Suresh, uses not only unconventional, but also unimaginable mediums to create his celebrity art installations.
Growing up, Suresh loved art and movies. For years he made a living out of painting hoardings and bills. Then he moved to creating moving sculptures, large elephants and other phenomenal creatures. As crowds paused, though, DaVinchi got the chance to experiment with his creations, the result of which were his stunning portraits of actors and sportsmen – those of India and beyond – made using not paint but objects as incredible as paddy, kitchen utensils, burning candles and protective masks.
For example, ‘Da Vinci’ Suresh created Mohanlal’s portrait using vessels and utensils already there in his kitchen – the blackened pots and pans served for hair. On the ceiling of his bedroom, he created the portrait installation of Tollywood’s sensation – Rajnikanth, using nothing but burning candles.
An installation of Amitabh Bachchan, the legendary actor India is known primarily for, was created using masks – the same masks we use to keep ourselves protected still.
One of DaVinchi’s most spectacular installations was something made for aerial view – Tovino Thomas’s portrait – was made in a paddy field. The artist divided this field into cells and planted paddy on the areas he wanted it. Measuring 35×20 feet, this paddy installation took painstaking work of four hours. When Tovino shared a picture of this art on his own social media, the artist’s wish was fulfilled.
While it is not uncommon to question Suresh’s use of these mediums, the true profoundness of the artist’s work lies in the mediums itself. Art is everywhere, to look for the ‘right’ things and the right time is only holding yourself back from a creation asking to be let out.
DaVinchi’s aim is to use 100 different mediums to create these celebrity portraits. Till now he has covered Leonardo Messi, Muhammed Abdu Rahiman Sahib, Prithviraj Sukumaran, Mahatma Gandhi and many more, accounting to over 8p portraits and just as many mediums.
We can’t wait to see the final collection!
If you liked ‘Da Vinci’ Suresh, you’ll also like the Indian artist who uses household supplies to create pottraits.
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