Forest Fables by Ganapati Hegde bring to mind oft-forgotten fellow creatures

There is no way one can miss a Ganapati Hegde — even from a hundred paces, the gentle glow of the forest draws you in, beckoning you to be a part of its serenity. “Even though I managed to dissuade them, I came away wishing there was a way to cover or protect these creatures that were dependent on nature to survive.” “In our culture, we drape a shawl or ponnada over achievers and celebrities as a mark of respect — similarly, I felt a shawl or cloth would honour those animals.” True enough, in Forest Fables one can see ‘Miss Owley’ or ‘Bajrangi Bhaijaan’, a dignified langur donning brightly patterned stoles. While one would see animals and birds in my previous works too, I believe in this series they appear in an improved version, both skill wise and thought wise.” Ganapati’s previous series Into The Forest, executed during the lockdown were a satirical take on mankind’s preoccupation with earning a living. “Though I enjoy painting and do not see it as ‘work’, I keep working on a particular piece until I am completely satisfied with it.” The artist says though he won a national award in 2010 for his Life in Nature series, his work did not immediately resonate with a lot of people. “Most people look for conventional ideas of beauty in paintings; they tend to keep away from anything that might be considered odd.” Forest Fables is on display at KYNKYNY Art Gallery till November 22, 2024.