Painting exhibition as tribute to artist B G Mohammad held

Mangalore, February 12: Several events associated with Dakshina Kannada appeared in the paintings of artist Sapna Noronha, whose solo art exhibition began in the city on Friday.

Ms. Noronha has dedicated the exhibition to her teacher, late B.G. Mohammed. Shabbir Ali, son of artist B.G. Mohammed, inaugurated the exhibition.

Themes such as “Bhoothakola”, “Kambla” and “Mosaru kudike festival” are the subjects of her paintings.

As S.S. Nayak, chartered accountant and one of the chief guests, said: “Some have interesting details which would have delighted her teacher. One such painting is 'Yield of the garden', where a woman with green bananas perched on her head is walking down a path. The sunlight filters in through a patch of sky above amidst the canopy of trees, lighting a few fronds of coconut leaves. Another is that of a man carrying straw on a cycle, 'Feet of Bahubali', and 'Woman at the waterfalls”.

He said that it was laudable that Ms. Sapna has dedicated the exhibition to her teacher at a time when acknowledging the teacher had become uncommon.

Ms. Noronha said that though she liked painting several themes, the tribute to Mohammed consisted mostly of subjects drawn from life in Dakshina Kannada.

She said, “This collection has more of Mangalore on the canvas. It has scenes that are fast disappearing from the city such as the painting of a bullock cart with hay, which I remember seeing in Mangalore in my childhood.”

She said that her teacher Mohammed would say that if he could have his students for two years, he would make artists out of them.

Narendra Kamath, skin specialist, recalled a time when Mohammed brought a painting to him.

When the artist was told he could have minted money in Mumbai with the paintings, he replied that the art was not for money but to share with the people of Mangalore.

Mr. Ali painted a landscape in minutes before the audience. Ms. Noronha has held group exhibitions and participated in “Chitra Santhe” in Bangalore.

She has held a solo exhibition of her works earlier in September 2010.

The exhibition is open to the public till February 15.