Pure gold and crystal studded paintings

That’s the beauty of traditional Kanhai art and Vikas Hotwani meets its creators, Govind Kanhai and Krishna Kanhai

Atal Bihari Vajpayee and LK Advani would vouch for these artists, and so would Amar Singh.

The life size portraits of these politicians made by two Vrindavan brothers Govind Kanhai and Krishna

Kanhai have garnered mammoth appreciation.

Apart from that, their most recent accomplishment includes a life size portrait of dream girl Hema Malini that will be gifted to her in the first week of November.

“Ideally, we would have given it to her on her birthday. But that wasn’t possible for schedule reasons,” they explain as they gave us a dekho of the portrait on their cell phone.

The duo (who have formed a niche for themselves in what is popularly recognised as ‘Kanhai art’ in North India) will hold an exhibition in Mumbai, the inauguration of which will be graced by big wigs like Rajshree Birla and Neerja Birla.

Also, Mrs LK Advani and Pratibha Advani will be the chief guests.

“We always had a desire to hold an exhibition in this city that is recognised as home for modern contemporary art. We are sure these paintings will catch the fancy of everyone,” says Govind Kanhai of the exhibition that will have pure gold and Swarovski crystals studded paintings of Lord Krishna.

Their father Kanhai Chitrakar gave a new dimension to the ancient practice where artists used pure gold and precious stones to make exotic Krishna paintings and today the two brothers boast of a unique clientele.

“It goes right up to the Ambanis, Birlas, Modys and even Singhanias. Most of them being from the top notch Marwari business community,” they state.   

“One of the major reasons why we get so inspired by Lord Krishna is by the sheer permutations and combinations that you can have with him. He could be standing next to a cow or a gopi or maybe with his pals breaking a dahi handi, wearing a crown or a pagadi, playing different flutes as per the mood. The list just goes on!” says Krishna

Kanhai as the two brothers break into verses from the Gita to give an accurate description of every aspect of their art.

The art form has references in Ramayana and Mahabharata and even the Jain Kalpa Sutra manuscripts that date way back to the 14th century and now kept in the National Museum in Delhi have illustrated gold paintings.

However, with time, the art form declined.

“Our father started off his career as an art director with Guru dutt Films but soon headed to Vrindavan and established himself in what today is known as ‘Kanhai art works’,” explains Govind Kanhai of his father and also the guru to both the brothers.
h_vikas@dnaindia.net