Kerala - Kochi

Of women and nature

Mini Prakash is a late entrant into the world of art. An ordinary homemaker hailing from Thiruvananthapuram, Ms. Prakash had been living in Ernakulam since 1993. Though she had kept a love for painting and drawing from young days, she had not been able to obtain any academic education or formal training.

Her forays into the world of colours started only a couple of year ago, as the children grew up. Finding time amidst the household chores, she started trying out to draw and paint using oil colours. "I was really working through trial and error method," she says.

Prompted by the suggestion of friends, Ms. Prakash held her first solo show titled 'Soul Celebrations' at Durbar Hall Art Centre in 2001. "I learnt a lot from the mistakes I committed during that show," she says.

The second show titled `Reveries' began at Durbar Hall Art Centre on Saturday. She painted mainly images of women, with nature. There are plants, water lilies and lotuses. She is strongly attracted by the myths and legends. "I was fascinated by the stories of Vikramaditya and the stories from the Aithihyamala," she says.

Ms. Prakash is interested in further expanding her knowledge of art. The show will conclude on Monday.
Renu Ramanath
(The Hindu, March 20, 2006)