Bhubaneswar: Art is not everyone’s cup of tea. Only a few manage to carve out a special niche for themselves in the hearts of art aficionados. One such artist is Cuttack-born artist Prasanna Kumara Maharana.
In order to honour his father’s wish, Prasanna pursued a career in engineering. However, his unending passion for art made him quit the engineering course in the mid-way just to create his identity as an artist.
“Quitting engineering to follow your passion is something that rare people dare to do. Many realize their passions while they are pursuing their engineering degree. I am one of them”, said Prasanna whose solo art exhibition ‘Dharohar’ has become the talk of the town with art lovers of New Delhi appreciating his artworks like anything.
His solo exhibition is being held at Indian Habitat Gallery and will continue till February 22. Art lovers are seen visiting the exhibition in large numbers. In short, they are in love with Prasanna’s creations made up of pen and ink.
Talking about his exhibition, Prasanna said, “My latest exhibition of paintings entitled Dharohar is based on theme of ‘coexistence’. Nature and culture are intertwined facts of human existence. Nature, with its awe-inspiring beauty and intricate sustainability, serves as a source of inspiration and sustenance for culture. On the other hand, culture encompasses art, language, rituals and social norms, providing a framework through which communities understand themselves and connect with nature. The intricate interplay between nature and culture shapes the essence of human existence, ensuring a sustainable legacy for future generations”, says Prasanna.
A total of 35 paintings under the theme ‘Dharohar’ showcase how nature and nature harmoniously coexist. His exhibition features key elements that make up the natural world and the activities that affect the planet’s fragile equilibrium.
“You can mostly find the filigree lines in my artworks in the form of tree structure. Pasapalli sarees of Odisha exhibit a unique charm, with their vibrant colours and elaborate patterns. For me, handloom textiles are the true definition of wearable art that reflects the social histories of their places of origin. Being a hardcore lover of Odisha handloom designs, I have included Pasapalli and Barapalli saree designs in his artworks”, he stated.
Prasanna’s father wanted his son to become an engineer. He pursued engineering for the sake of his father. As his interest was in painting, he did not complete engineering and enrolled his name in BK College of Art and Crafts to follow his heart. Later, he took admission to Central University, Hyderabad to do his master degree in fine art but he failed to do the course due to health issues.
It was not easy for him to create his own identity as an artist. He challenged the stereotypical mindset of society to establish himself as an artist and reputed art teacher in Delhi.
Son of Raj Kishore Moharana and Hemalata Moharana, Prasanna has been teaching art to the students of Kendriya Vidyalay-2, Delhi since 1995. He owes his success to his maternal uncle and artist Madhusudan Maharana.
