By Dia Milton

Fascination with the abstract is what most of his works reveal. The world of realities, the world of dreams and the intangible, are equally his areas of interest, and blurring the divide between them, a passion that he excels in. Colors, lines and ideas blend to give birth to images that tantalize your eyes, tease your intellect and pacify your soul. His strokes have a mesmeric difference about them, yet, there is no obsessive effort to be different. The element of mystery is a palpable flavour in most of his paintings yet their simplicity and the coherence of their language is what makes him the contemporary artist with a pleasant twist. The contrast and enigma that this creates is essentially the hallmark of an artist who brings to the canvas, hidden emotions, radical thoughts and reflections on life. Sasikrishnan is eloquent and charming to the hilt and his works are an extension of his bright persona and genius.

Behind the Mask is an intense yet delightful painting by Sasikrishnan which carries to the surface the manifold mind of man which is deceptive and astute alike. The protagonist in this painting is the Mask which is man’s greatest psychological armour. The need to camouflage one’s emotions, personality and attitude is unfortunately a necessity of our times and has become an existential tool for man. The theme is grave and intense yet there is no beauty lost in this painting which employs the use of bright colors across the canvas. At the centre of this painting is a young girl, her face awash with innocence and her body language charming. However, one finds her hands stretched back as if to conceal something. That “something” is a Mask that carries a certain shrewdness and undesirability about it. This painting is emotive of life as we see in our midst and Sasi has successfully captured the ability and the necessity of man, to hide his true nature in times of adversity to protect oneself and also to conceal his ill motives at other times.

Essentially a painter, Sasi has proved his mettle as a Sculptor, Cartoonist, Writer, Poet, Art Teacher and Art Director of documentaries stimulated by social circumstances. Wearing different hats seems the order of the day for this sophisticated gentleman who finds inspiration in practically everything around him from the leaf to the sky.

Born in India in 1966, Sasi’s works have travelled all over the world as part of a journey that commenced nearly four decades ago in a crammed classroom in a tiny village in India. He has created over a thousand paintings that talk to you, empathise with you, and are always penetrating narrations of his mind. His oeuvres are all communicative but the extra dimension of the richness of life’s experiences is what makes them individually similar and dissimilar at the same time.

As a commissioned artist his works adorn the interiors of many luxury hotels, schools and corporates all over the world. He is the father of the Phil~aesthoism movement of art that combines, love, beauty and human relations in art and this ideology finds place in all his works which ultimately breath peace.

The contemporary art world is suffused with chaos, desire, hope, and most of all cut throat competition. Making a few sounds here is not easy yet his works that are sensuous, brilliant and narrative of the mysteries of this life have clinched a place for him amongst some of the big names we often hear of.

He is a recipient of numerous awards from Indian governmental bodies as well as private organizations. He has held 12 solo and 9 group exhibitions in different places. Each of his exhibitions have proved to be a window into the mind of the man singularly gifted with the talent to shake your sensibility, reinforce faith in life and ignite your passion to question and accept, alike, the eccentricities of life. His exhibitions paint the perfect exceptional experience for the art connoisseur and the uninitiated layman equally. One hopes that his brush continues to travel for years to come and paint innumerable pieces that will kindle love, hope and peace in man and his world.

For more information about the artist visit www.sasikrishnan.com; phone: 9096 1048, or email:

sasikrishnaa@gmail.com

Images by Beena S. Krishnaa, Anandu S. Krishnaa and Aditya S. Krishnaa.