Late
child prodigy’s 60 works unveiled at new gallery in Jew Town
Kochi, Dec 16: One of India’s legendary child
prodigies became part of the country’ only biennale today when the ongoing
extravaganza here opened an exhibition of select works of late Edmund Thomas
Clint—Kerala’s art genius who died three decades ago, leaving behind more than
25,000 pictures in a life that hardly spanned seven years.
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| Edmund Clint's father Joseph M T lights lamp as Riyas Komu, Balan Nambiar, Jitish Kallatt, Bose Krishnamachari, N B Majnu look on |
In the process, the 108-day Kochi-Muziris
Biennale (KMB) also facilitated the opening of a new gallery, as close to 60
prints of the works of Clint found display in a West Kochi venue called
Cosmopolitan Cult, located in the historical Jew Town within coastal
Mattancherry.
Clint’s septuagenarian father Joseph M T
opened the Clint Exhibition, which also marked the start of a Children’s
Biennale which will run parallel to KMB’14 that opened on December 12 and is
set to conclude on March 29 next year. The Kochi Biennale Foundation (KBF) has
organised a children’s segment to rekindle the spirit of drawing and painting
in the younger generation.
Mr Joseph lit the traditional lamp at the
forenoon function that was also addressed by KBF president Bose Krishnamachari,
secretary Riyas Komu, KMB’14 artistic director Jitish Kallat and veteran
sculptor Balan Nambiar besides N B Majnu who owns the gallery.
Mr Joseph, who is a Kochiite, recalled how
his wife Chinnamma (who could not attend today’s function as she was
unexpectedly indisposed) used to routinely take out their son Clint across the
open greenery around their quarters in Thevara suburbs which was bordered by
the scenic Perandur canal. “That constant brush with the nature kindled images
in him; evoked curiosity about several things such as trees, flowers, birds and
animals around,” he added.
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| A visitor looks at art works of Clint |
A retired employee with Central Institute
of Fisheries Technology in nearby Willingdon Island, Mr Joseph struggled for
words as he recalled Clint’s last work—portraying the traditional Thira
dancer—which the boy happened to get a peek while passing through Koyilandy
upstate in April 1983, a month before he died of kidney failure.
Krishnamachari noted that Clint “showed
excellent” command over water colour, which is a difficult medium to gain
mastery.
Komu noted that Clint received a world of understanding for himself in his short life.
“It is visible in his works,” he added.
Curator Kallat, who is also curator of
KMB’14, said Clint possessed “a child’s view and a grown-up’s vision”.
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| New gallery, Cosmpolitan Cult, at Mattancherry opens with a Clint show that opened , marking start of Children's Biennale at KMB'14 |
Nambiar, who has been teaching children art
for 43 years, noted that Clint’s works on display at the biennale featured a
mix of what a four-year-old could draw both as a precocious boy as well as an
average child.
Majnu said he was proud that the ancient
trade hub of Jew Town could chip in its bit to the second edition of KMB
featuring 100 main works by 94 artists from 30 countries.
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