(Born -1942)
Thota Vaikuntam was born in Telangana, 1942. He is an eminent Indian painter. He studied from College of Fine Aarts, Hyderabad. Also trained under renowned artist K.G. Subramanyan at M.S. University, Baroda on a Lalit Kala Academy fellowship. Vaikuntam is known for his strong and brightly colored portraits of the strong men and women from the Telangana region where he grew up. His early art was influenced by calendar art and mythological scenes painted on scrolls and village walls. The caste-free social structure of his village has deeply inspired him.
Vaikuntam often depicts the rustic beauty of the village, focusing on the strong farmers, labourers, and women doing their daily activities. Bright, primary colors inspired by nature, rendered in fine brushstrokes, bring to life his sensuous depictions of women. Their lustrous dark skin and sturdy bodies, hardened by labor, are beautifully adorned with jewelry and flowers. He captures the simple lifestyle of villagers, depicting scenes such as paddy fields, men carrying toddy pots on their shoulders, household chores, and temple rituals. His artistic range includes charcoal drawings, washes, and detailed pencil sketches and often works is in acrylics. He paints colorful and elaborately dressed men and seductive women from the Telangana region. His inspiration comes from the sensuous and voluptuous women of Telangana, often seen draped in colorful sarees that emphasize their dusky skin, adorned with prominent vermilion bindis.
Vaikuntam has also worked as an art director for films. He was the art director for the 1988-89 Telugu film Dasi, which won a national award. In 1993, and he received Lalit Kala Academy’s National award.
Thota Vaikuntam lives and works in Hyderabad.
