The gallery in Thiruvananthapuram is the first of its kind in India for Malayalam calligraphy
The gallery in Thiruvananthapuram is the first of its kind in India for Malayalam calligraphy
“It is the fulfillment of a long cherished dream for me,” says Narayana Bhattathiri, a gallery for Malayalam calligraphy. Familiar to readers of Malayalam as artist Bhattathiri, the master calligrapher has created the gallery on the top floor of his home in Forest Office Lane, Vazuthacaud, Thiruvananthapuram.
“This may be the first of its kind for Malayalam calligraphy. Cities like Mumbai and Delhi have galleries with performances in Devanagari script,” says Bhattathiri.
He has been on a one-man mission for more than four decades to popularize Malayalam calligraphy. “It is not getting the protection it deserves. That is why I have been posting calligraphy work daily on my Facebook page (Bhattathiri Calligraphy) since 2015 and also conducting online and offline workshops. However, people will often want to see the tasks in person. But it is not possible to organize exhibitions everywhere and it has made me think of opening a gallery, which I have done,” says the 63-year-old artist. The number of designs posted on his page has crossed 3,700 and counting is on.
They feel that calligraphy is not being promoted in South India despite having some excellent calligraphers in all languages. “His artistry is confined to the titles of books, magazines and movies. It is still not considered a work of art,” he says.
A work by artist Bhattathiri | photo credit: mahinsha sa
Calligraphy, coined from the Greek words for ‘beauty’ ( Kallos) and ‘write’ ( graphene), is about writing with your hand, albeit beautifully. “There is no set rule or parameter for this. It is up to the practitioner to recognize it. I don’t plan what I’m going to write. It just flows,” he says. The designs are born during her two-hour practice which takes place every day at 3 a.m. His workspace is a room with a custom-made table big enough for him to stand on and draw. He does two chores daily which are posted on his Facebook page. “Practice is what makes you grow,” he insisted.
when letters speak
A work by artist Bhattathiri | photo credit: mahinsha sa
The gallery features works both old and new in over 35 exhibitions. Each has its own visual language – a particular alphabet or a word undergoes a sea change as it has curls, loops, twists, turns and innovative features. That’s not all. In each work, the alphabet (or letters of the alphabet) is mixed with lines from Malayalam poetry. “The design has nothing to do with the lines I chose that day. The verse must contain that particular letter or word. What I love about this process is that I read them as I write them,” he says. The best part is seeing how he incorporates the poem into various shapes or geometric shapes. – A circle, a square, a rectangle and so on. The use of their colors enhances every work.
He insisted that each work on display is a first draft. The same is true of every design he made. “Once it’s done, I don’t go in for any changes or redraw it. Even if the stroke isn’t obvious, I just leave it like that,” he says. It is not necessary that a viewer can understand everything that is written. “People may not be able to read all the letters. But that’s okay. That’s when we enjoy Arabic or Chinese calligraphy.” So do we try to read what is written? The same applies to Malayalam calligraphy. They are meant to be seen,” he believes.
A work by artist Bhattathiri | photo credit: mahinsha sa
A native of Pandalam, he remembers being inspired by the typeface he saw in his father’s printing press as a young boy. After moving to Thiruvananthapuram, he studied painting at the College of Fine Arts and worked part-time as an artist. He began assisting art director S Rajendran. Kalakaumudi magazine where he received the title of calligrapher. His first assignment was to write the title of a story and began his journey towards designing the titles of several seminal books in Malayalam literature. He is the recipient of the Jikji Prize for Calligraphy given by the Cheongju Cultural Center, Seoul, South Korea for 2017, 2018 and 2019. His works are exhibited in this centre. His designs have also been exhibited at the Calligraphy Stone Park in Harbin, China.
A work by artist Bhattathiri | photo credit: mahinsha sa
“When I look at this gallery, I feel satisfied that I have done something for generations to come. What’s the use of making something everyday and keeping it at home?” He says.
The following tables arranged in the gallery are for the calligraphy classes he plans to start soon. Three works of veteran calligrapher Achyuta Palava are also on display in the gallery.
Artist Bose Krishnamachari opens ‘Ka Cha Ta Tha Pa’ on August 2 at 9 am. Admission is free for the public from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. It is closed on Mondays.
Contact: 9496232444