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Tamil Nadu
Translating art for the layman, through films
Gita.
A camera and a tripod are all that Gita needs to dwell on the unexplored world. An artist herself, she captures the unknown persona of other well-known artists through her short films. While canning their intense personalities, Gita continues to work with her favourite earthy tones of reds, browns and oranges for 6-8 hours everyday. Deepa H. Ramakrishnan in conversation with the artist.
“I started painting after marriage. Then, I wanted to learn everything and try every possible style. So I read up and the habit to read up on other artists continues,” she says.
“I happened to visit an exhibition after I read a book about an artist. I was able to connect better to the works and the person. It was then that I thought films could help people who are not into arts connect to art better,” explains Gita, who regards film-making as an extension of the fine arts.
“I make films on artists, whose works and personalities excite me. One such artist, whom I found in Kodaikanal, is Adam Khan. I record each artist for about 3-5 hours. In the beginning, I was greedy with my shots and made very long films. But now I know what to keep and what not to,” says Gita, who has filmed artists such as Achuthan Kudallur, R.B. Bhaskaran, Ka. Ty Deslandes and Prafulla Mohanti.
Her subjects mostly revolve around the female form. Dancing female forms, musical instruments, the sun and the horizon are her favourites. “I think the female form comes naturally to me. ”
Married to numismatist and photographer Rod Hudson, Gita says her husband and son Frank are her first critics. Asked how she manages to juggle home, art and film-making, this daughter of former Superintendent of Police R. Kirupakaran says her family and friends are always there to help her. “Even earlier, when I was struggling to establish myself my dad was there for me. Clients would help me with tips as to where I could go next. But I think women artists cannot abandon everything like men. They have children to take care of.”
Gita also loves making terracotta sculptures, ink sketches and metal sheet work.
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