Thota Vaikuntam painting is best known to represent dusky and bright-colored Telangana women. Not only one but many of his paintings portrayed the part exotic part grotesque figures. Thota Vaikuntam drew those women in his paintings as it gave him the strength that he found inherent in most Indian women.
Early life of Thota Vaikuntam
Through his paintings, he used to capture the simple lifestyle of villagers. Born in the Karimnagar district, Telangana, his father used to run a grocery shop. Thota completed his Diploma in Painting at the College of Fine Arts and Architecture, Hyderabad, in 1970. Later in 1972, he pursued another diploma in Painting and Printmaking from the Faculty of Fine Arts at Maharaja Sayajirao University, Baroda. His parents supported him even though they never understood what art was.
Thota Vaikuntam’s obsession with women
Every artist is unique in their own way, while Thota Vaikuntam's paintings had Telengana beauties that could capture anyone's attention and make them yearn for more and more.
In his effort to bring life to his paintings, he keenly observed the local women from his village. Firstly, his mother personified the Telangana women's qualities like being strong, caring, and confident.
Thota Vaikuntam admits that he used to find the women of the village sensuous. He began sketching images inspired by a spiritual and sensual tradition in the initial period. He hid those from the public eye as he thought they were pretty sexual to be seen by any.
Thota Vaikuntam paintings were used to depict women in rural settings. These women reflected the culture of his region, i.e., local festivals, activities, visiting temples. He used to observe women gossiping and standing together, which one could say personified a strong culture.
To Sum Up
Among the various Thota Vaikuntam artworks, the best-known Thota Vaikuntam painting is “Women In Gossip” which was inspired by the women of his village. The painting depicts the beauty and the strong demeanor of women through bold colors and fine strokes. Thota Vaikuntam earned many awards like Bharat Bhavan Biennale Award and National Award.