Vibrant horses frozen mid-gallop, textured floral canvases, charcoal crows and Rajasthani women in colourful attire — the ongoing exhibition at Kasthuri Sreenivasan art gallery offers visitors a glimpse of the diverse artistic worlds of the Kongu Oviya Kalai Kuzhu, that consists of artists V Rajendhran, Kumanan, Murugesan, Ramamoorthy and Govindarajulu.

Around 70 paintings by the five artists from varied artistic backgrounds are on display. From realistic animal portraits to abstract modern works, each canvas reflects a distinct artistic identity. Works on display are a play on colour, texture, and technique, and are a testament to the artists’ mastery over their craft and attention to detail.

Rajendhran’s collection prominently showcases works themed on textile design, customised to suit the preferences of people of various nationalities. Explaining his process, he says that he converts manual designs into computer-generated patterns for textile production. He has employed techniques such as knife work and spray painting, taking two to three days to complete three watercolour works.

Rajendhran hopes that more people visit exhibitions like these to better understand the creativity and effort involved in textile designing. He feels that the display can particularly benefit students learning fashion and textile design by helping them gain deeper insight into artistic techniques and design concepts.

Artist Kumanan’s collection includes acrylic canvas paintings in which brush strokes resemble knife painting techniques. His works span multiple styles, including watercolours and charcoal pencil sketching. One of his charcoal sketches captures the back of an elephant, highlighting intricate detailing through carefully layered strokes.

His paintings largely draw inspiration from Nature, featuring animals, fruits and temple motifs. Apart from paintings, Kumanan, who is also a sculptor, has presented a handful of his sculptures. Here, instead of using paint, he has experimented with covering surfaces with seeds to create a unique visual texture. He has also done poster colour paintings of Lord Ganesha in largely ochre shades.

The exhibition also features five charcoal sketches by artist Ramamoorthy, each centred on the theme of crows. Although based on a single subject, each sketch presents the bird in a unique artistic style and composition.

Another artist, Govindarajulu, showcases paintings inspired by rustic village life and Rajasthan-style portraits of women, while artist Murugesan’s works capture flowers, forests, birds, horses and natural landscapes.

A striking feature across the exhibition is texture painting, a technique in which artists create a three-dimensional effect using clay before painting the rest of the canvas. The method gives several artworks a lifelike appearance and adds depth to the visual experience.

Rajendhran speaks about the changing preferences of art buyers across the world. According to him, buyers from the Gulf countries often prefer paintings featuring large floral patterns and decorative designs, while people from China and Japan are more inclined towards modern abstract art. “Our paintings receive greater appreciation and orders from abroad than within India,” adds the artist whose artwork has found a place in a museum in London.

Through a blend of traditional skill, experimentation and global influence, the exhibition offers visitors not just paintings, but stories shaped through colour, texture and imagination.

The show, part of the AURORA Series 2026, is on till May 17, 10am to 6.30pm at Kasthuri Sreenivasan Art Gallery & Textile Museum, Avinashi Road, Coimbatore. Call 2574110