Kerala art teacher celebrates 21 years of student showcases

For the past 21 years (except for the pandemic years), artist VB Venu has been conducting a show of works painted by students attending the summer camp he organises at his Chaithram Institute of Fine Art, Palluruthy. “The number of participants has dwindled post-COVID. Earlier, there used to be more than 100; it is down to barely 50-odd children now. This year there were 54 children. The works of children who are regular students are also on show,” says Venu.

The works are exhibited by the children at the conclusion of the two-month painting classes that he conducts during summer vacation. Initially, when he started this, he used to exhibit these at Chitram Art Gallery, in Ravipuram. But now the Spectrum of Colours showcase is always at Chaithram Institute of Fine Art. This year’s edition opened on May 28.

This year is special for Venu also because Chaithram completes 40 years on July 6. It was inaugurated by Artist Namboodiri in 1986.

Artist VB Venu’s Chaithram Art Gallery
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SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

Venu, who was a good student in school, initially wanted to be an architect but had to forgo the dream. “My family was not in a financial state to fund that education for me. I joined Maharaja’s College for my graduation, where I happened to see two art shows — one by the late KP Krishna Kumar held at the college and the other, the State Exhibition, which was also being held in Kochi at the time.” What he saw at these shows impacted him enough to make him want to learn art. 

He joined a local arts school at Thoppumpady, where he completed a diploma in arts before joining Kerala Kalapeedam, set up by the late artist MV Devan in the late 1970s. “I enjoyed myself, and it felt like I had found my calling,” reminisces Venu, who has been part of art shows. 

One day, at 26, as he walked to Kalapeedam, he had an epiphany: he needed to do something to earn a living. That is how he decided to set up Chaithram, near his home, where he offered courses for those taking the Kerala Government Technical Examination. Over time, with fewer takers for the courses, he pivoted to his first love: art. Young students, keen to learn drawing and art, joined Chaithram, which grew into the art institute it is now. 

It was 21 years ago that he decided to conduct arts classes for the children during the summer vacation, at the culmination of which he felt a showcase would be a confidence boost for the children. “I asked the parents if they would be interested, and of course, they were on board, which is how this show came to be.” 

The show concludes on May 30