This Indian Artist’s Mini Portraits Capture The Essence Of Madras

A city is a microcosm of an entire world in itself, with historically significant landmarks sitting right next to little known gems tucked behind narrow alleyways inlaid with turn-of-the-century cobblestone, tall glass and steel skyscrapers in striking contrast with run down brick buildings, and British-era bungalows with bougainvillea from their overgrown gardens spilling on the sidewalk where a poor family of 4 has made a home under makeshift plastic tents. Outrageously loud, unapologetically alive, feeding on chaos, a city can be likened to a living creature that can be tough to crack, rough to traverse, but at the same time that is intrinsically nurturing, promoting growth, and providing unexpected happiness, if you just learn to go with its unique flow and stop fighting it.

There have been innumerable homages paid to multiple cities by their loyal residents, or in this case, former resident, but the vein that Hemlata Venkatraman does it in strikes a chord with anyone for whom their city will always be home. Pursuing a Master in Fine Arts degree in the United States, Hemlata is originally from Chennai and never shies away from expressing her deep fondness for her hometown. In a passion project that aims to document Chennai in a way that celebrates its innate simplicity, Hemlata sketches different parts of the city - everything from libraries, churches, railway stations and theaters to tea stalls, auto rickshaws, and even a local pup. “Watchmen, flower-sellers, and even pakoda vendors, who happened to be at the sites where I was sketching, drew my attention to aspects that I had missed out. While sketching had definitely been an engaging experience, the warmth and kindness that I found amidst complete strangers who tagged along in my pursuit, will always be close to my heart,” she told The Better India.

Back in university, my creative writing class was assigned a paper where we had to visit the most crowded, bustling parts of the city and write about ‘a quiet place’ in the midst of all that mayhem. Skeptical at first, it took me a good couple of hours to identify it. I marvelled at the possibility, and inevitability, of the existence of little pools of peace hidden in plain sight. A rickety tea stall around which 2-3 men gather, everyday at the same time. There’s inherent peace in the languid movements of their bodies as they sprawl on a bench to the side, with a familiarity so telling of their daily ritual. The smoke from the cheap cigarettes gracefully rises up in a wispy spiral, unhurried and oblivious to the utter chaos surrounding it on all sides.

“There is so much more to the city than what the eyes capture. More than the historical and cultural significance, what makes Madras a riveting city are its simple and down-to-earth ways that never fail to amaze. The project has been an attempt to picture such nuances that often go amiss in photographs,” says Hemalatha to The Better India.

Perhaps it was these moments - the meeting of friends, an act of kindness, a relatable conversation with a stranger - that makes us fall in love with a city. And perhaps it was the desire to capture the magic of these intangible and often unnoticed instances that drove Hemlata to immortalize parts of her city through art. Her mini-sketches are drawn in ink but sealed with zeal. There’s a certain movement in the lines of her sketches that lend a vibrantly alive feel to the subjects she chooses.

You can find the ‘Madras-In-Mini’ series and other art projects by Hemlata here.