Chieftain Drawing

About the Artist: A self-taught artist, Raghavan R has been passionate about art since childhood. He quit his well-paying IT job that didn’t quite ignite his creativity to follow his passion that does: painting. His works do not stick to the confines of any particular genre as he believes in translating his emotions into his work without any restrictions. Being self-taught has helped him approach every work in his own personal way, bringing a fresh perspective that connects with the audiences on different levels. Along with his fiancee, Shraavya Satyanarayan, he founded ARTitudeStudio, an establishment dedicated to explore and experience art in various forms, in Bengaluru, India. Artist Statement: It is not what I see but what I don’t see that intrigues me, and inspires me. I like to scratch more than just the surface; I like to dig deeper and explore layers that usually evade being noticed at the first glance, be it a thought, object or a person. That’s exactly what I try to showcase through my artwork. Most of my work cannot be understood at just a glance, because what I try to convey is not an image but a thought, an idea. My intention for my audiences is that they spend some time looking deeper into my installation and gain an understanding of the idea contained within; an idea that may have already existed deep within their own selves but haven’t yet found a concrete external expression. Almost all my artwork comes with a brief description to facilitate a dialogue with the spectator. With my art, I don’t intend to decorate walls. I wish to stir an emotion in the viewer and take him/her beyond the sensory input, and right inside the artwork. That’s where the viewer can have a conversation with the artwork and build a relationship with it. I believe that the purpose of art is not just to add beauty, but to also embrace the not-so-beautiful in a meaningful way. I believe that more than pleasing the viewer, art should make the viewer think, explore and question. It should become a part of their selves. I intend to enhance the way one interacts with the art through my work; one painting at a time. Yours truly, Raghavan