Paintings of peace

His Holiness

Art is just the entrance to the temple of religion,” says M Lokeswara Rao. Belonging to the 1983 batch of Indian Forest Service (I F S.) Rao worked as Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Head of the Forest Force in Nagaland.

Now in Delhi, Rao has come to showcase his paintings of Lord Buddha, who he believes is a much-valued source of hope in the “current time of violence and hatred”.

A solo painting exhibition, titled ‘The Buddha’, by Rao is currently underway at the Studio 55, Café & Art Gallery in Sunder Nagar. According to Rao all the 20 paintings that are on display have been inspired by eight important symbols of Buddhism such as conch, lotus, unending knot, dharma chakra among others. According to Rao the exhibition is a result of the constant searching of his own self.

“The displayed works are just some examples of reinvention of creative bliss. Every work has a deep thought and meaning, supporting its visual description,” said Rao who has also been practicing Tanjore style of paintings for the past several years along with digital paintings.

In the past, Rao has used Tanjore style to paint the famous cartoon characters.

“He has used Tanjori style to paint Aladdin flying with Jasmine. On the 70th anniversary of famous cartoon character Tom and Jerry, Mr Rao painted ‘Tom and Jerry celebrating Christmas’. It was a unique mix of western animation and South Indian classical style of painting,” the organisers said.

“He always had a different way to look into things with an altered perspective with a different perceptive ability,” the organisers added.

“The really creative person is not interested in dominating anybody. He is so utterly rejoicing in life, he wants to create; he wants to participate with God. I believe the series of paintings will be a source of joy for everyone,” Rao said.