Chauffeur-turned-artist exhibits works with mentor

When Rama Ratan came to the city as a boy of eight, little did he know that he would grow up to become an artist whose paintings will find audience from across the globe.
Ratan who works as a chaffeur by the day, began his artistic journey, after the family he stays with noticed his exceptional artistic skills and encouraged him to pursue his passion.
Since then, he has been expressing freely on the canvas and creating artworks, under the guidance of Delhi-based artist Kavita Chopra Dikshit.
Ratan's artworks, which were displayed at a recent studio show here, portrays the hardships he faced in life. His 'Untitled' paintings draw memories of the village he once lived in.

"I came from Sultanpur at a very early age. Being an illiterate, there was nothing much I could make out from my life. But when I came across colours and a painting brush, I felt the need to express myself," he says.
With simple lines, vibrant colours and evocative brush strokes, the artist captures rural themes, the sun being a recurrent object in his works.
"The village life drew me closer to the nature. I remember those lush green fields, trees and chirping birds. These paintings are an abstract of what all serves as memories of my village life," he says.