Her first water colour painting was at the age of 16. But never in her dreams had she imagined that she would be able to hold an exhibition and that too at the age of 60. K Usha P Rai’s story could well be an inspiration for many. Rising like the phoneix from the ashes and holding an exhibition called the ‘Shades of Life’ on December 7 to 9 at Chitrakala Parishat.
A fatal car accident in 2005 left her husband, also a writer, and herself confined to bed for nearly six months. But for this woman of courage all was not lost. She knew she had to do something to overcome her mental and physical trauma and not to be tied down. Then she started dabbling with colours, once that was just a hobby.
Since then she has not looked back. Now fit as a fiddle, she says “I was a manager with the Vijaya Bank. After I took up voluntary retirement, I started writing in Kannada as writing was always within me. But after the accident, painting took up all my time. It became my passion. It gave me a second life. Colous and brush came close to my heart.“
So she started doing oil on canvas, water colour, glass painting and fabric painting. “I also painted photographs that we had shot on trips that we had taken,” she adds. Usha continues to be an inspiration to her husband who has not taken the accident too well.
She says this exhibition comprises the paintings that I have done over the years. My son who is in the US encouraged me greatly to go ahead with the exhibition adding ``I am also grateful to Nimi Ravindranath of Nakshatra Art Foundation whose been a great guide and friend since my accident and helped me exhibit my paintings.”
An MA in sociology, some of the art awards Usha won include the Dasara Art exhibition for an embroidery work with human hair.“ I have also published seven novels, two collection of stories, four collection of poems, a travelogue and much more which won me many literary awards like B Sarojadevi Literary Award by Kannada Sahitya Parishat-2000, Neelaganga Endowment Trust Award by Kannada Sahitya Parishat 2005 and Karavali Ratna Award by South Canara Association 2007. My creativity allowed me to be born again.” The paintings show varied facets of life and the strength of a woman whose second name is versatlity.
