Jayan Puthumana -An Extraordinary Man of Great Intellectual Capacity in Art

An untiring and prolific painter of great facility, Jayan Puthumana is distinguished for the variety of his styles, his extraordinary technical excellence, and his observant delineation of contemporary life. A multifaceted personality, he has also dabbled in wood carvings, murals, sculpture, architecture and interior designing. In addition, he is an accomplished writer.

He is one of those few great artists who have managed to etch an indelible impression in the realms of contemporary Indian art. Much of his artworks seem to have been inspired from Indian culture and society, tradition, Indian architecture and temple sculptures.

An extraordinary man of great intellectual capacity in art, he is a temple high-priest by profession. The wild luxuriant beauty of the Western Ghats has always inspired this artist from Kunnathurmedu, Palakkad to portray his ideas on canvas.

The poverty and misery Janardhanan Namboodiri faced was too much when he was young. Chapters from his life resemble a novel or a story written in tears and hope. When he tore these pages from his life and stitched them all together, it became a wonderful story “Kaliyattam”, a story of hope and survival.

Jayan Puthumana was young, and life was unforgiving. Without describing the events and details, suffice it is to say that when we talked to him, we realised that life kept gnawing at his heels, and he had no other option but to grab anything life had to offer. He finished off his 10th and joined the Mechanical Stream in ITI. After completing his studies from ITI, he worked as a mechanic at Palakkad and Coimbatore. Finally, he moved to Bangalore, looking for better career opportunities. During this span of his life, he lost both his parents. Struggling against odds, he managed to marry off his sisters. During those days, life showed him only one face – The face of Hunger.

Now, the winter storm in his life has ended and, according to Jayan Puthumana, the beginning of a beautiful one as well. “Now, the Sri Krishna at this Kunnathurmedu Balamurali temple is my saviour” he says. He thanks the deity for giving him the strength when he needed it the most because he has seen it all, and he has been through it all.

Jayan Puthumana took all the initiatives necessary to have the outer walls of sanctum sanctorum painted with murals, prepared out of colors the very traditional way. He said, a lot of research and collective effort went into creating the mural depictions all around the temple walls.

During his spare time, which is a luxury he gets, he reads. One of his favourite authors is M.T Vasudevan Nair. Jayan Puthumana very well knows that the life of a priest is a busy life and not necessarily suited for that of an artist or a writer. He walked into the world of art very well knowing his limitations and the call of reality. Jayan Puthumana never worked on demand but always followed his heart and mind, for he felt that everything has a time and place. He says that life happens and his writings are nothing but a poetic and philosophical catalogue of life he experiences.

Most of his paintings are a pungent reminder and pointer at the sorry state of affairs in the society during our times. Many of his works make satirical remarks at the evils of the society.

He drew the illustrations for “Kettuvo, aa Nilavili”, a book about Mundur Sethumadhavan. The illustrations by Jayan Puthumana show the helplessness experienced by the protagonist. He reminds us through his graceful compilations the purity of village life and the tricks and treats of a city.

In addition, he drew the illustrations for “Kadhalokam” a work about Mundur Krishnankutty. Jayan Puthumana sarcastically mocks the society who not only turns their face away from the reality they face, but veil it like shoving the dust under the carpet as well. Further, he has drawn the illustrations for “Darshanabhoomi” published from Guruvayur.

Jayan Puthumana believes that it is only through reading that a society will be brave enough to withstand the injustice in and against the society.

Mythology and spiritual readings weren’t the only source of his inspiration. Having visited many places during his young nomadic life, he drew the plight of the society onto the canvas; it was the simplicity of the colours and people from across the places that reflect his ideas.

He took part in numerous group exhibitions and displayed his first solo exhibition of drawings, paintings and sculptures at an event organized by Balamurali Trust, Kunnathurmedu, Palakkad. He closely associates with artisans from Palakkad Chitrakala Trust.

It wouldn’t be wrong to say that painting is the life and soul of Jayan Puthumana. Blessed with one of the best gifts of God – art, he knew exactly how to make his paintings speak for themselves. He is an individual who has blended ethnic and mythological themes to come up with luminous and incredible art forms.

Image Courtesy:Keralamurals.in