Creating a photo-art universe

RATE OF THE ART

Toss an idea to a perfectionist and see what he does with it. Perhaps he'd work around the idea, look at it from every possible perspective and put it through every possible treatment till he's satisfied and gets what he wants.

Shibu Arakkal is one such perfectionist, or claims to be one. And to prove his point he tells you of his obsession with a curve, which incidentally is also the focus of his latest photoart exhibition "" Abstract Notions "" showing in Delhi.

"It's just a thought that crossed my mind. Why are we so obsessed with a curve as against a line?" he asks. To prove his point he illustrates: "Look at the traditional design of a bulb. Why is it shaped like a curve and not a line? I mean, the curve does not contribute to its function!"

Or for that matter, Scandinavian furniture "" "it's more curvy than the modern line and continues to be a favourite the world over..." he says as if to prove his point. And so he set out to unravel the mystery with his camera and imagination. The result has been extraordinary. This is what he calls his other perspective "" geometric in form, very abstract.

Just like an artist uses his brush to paint different strokes, Arakkal has used his lens and technology to get the same effect. Look at his pictures from afar and one would never figure out that one image has been replicated, multiplied and then stitched together to get the final effect.

In fact, such has been the effect for some that the photographs look more like a painting than a picture. " Thank God for technology," he says. "It gives me the freedom to get the size I want, the backdrop that I want and also the life that I'd ideally want for my work. For instance, for these particular works "" inkjet on canvas "" the technical life promised by the printer (HP) is 150 years. That's a long life. If you ask me, I'd be satisfied even if my buyer gets 50 years' worth,'' he says.

But then this is where the difference lies between an artwork and a photo work. Only, Arakkal begs to differ. "Photography is a new medium. It cannot be projected in the same way as a painting," he says. He should know better, coming from a family of painters. As Yusuf Arakkal's son, he was used to having creativity flowing around. So wouldn't it have been natural that the son followed the father's footsteps? "Not at all!" he exclaims. "My father was relieved that I did not take to art and decided to become a photographer instead. He simply dreaded the thought of having competition in the house," he reveals candidly.

Instead, he took happily to having a techno-geek photographer son around and even picked up a thing or two from him. "Like the use of Photoshop, and he even gives me the credit for it!" Shibu laughs. And having learnt that, Yusuf Arakkal has put the technology to good use in his paintings.

What makes Arakkal most happy and satisfied is not having to live under the shadow of his father or counter comparisons. For someone who started out at the age of 13, which now makes it 17 years of experience behind him, 30-year-old Arakkal has come a long way. Not that he's detached from art. He claims that things could not be better as he's learnt about the masters through his photography and feels that he's understood them much better.

For someone who trained under Sudhir Ramchandran and Rafique Sayed for a limited period, the spark is only getting brighter by the day. Why, even his mentor admits: "Arakkal has the heart of a painter and the mind of a photographer. This is a potent combination for a young photographer. He can create his own universe." And that is exactly what he's set out to do!