Suvigya Sharma was surrounded by colours ever since he was a kid. The miniature artist recollects sitting by his grandfather’s house in Kishangarh and watching his father make natural pigments for painting. But never did he think that he would take this up eventually. In fact, he went to Pune to pursue a degree in Trade and Export Management.
“I enjoyed painting much. I would often sketch a lot as a school kid. As a young boy, I wanted to get into exporting handicrafts. I would say it is destiny,” explains Suvigya, about his journey. Belonging to the third generation of artists, today this miniature artist’s clients include the Prime Minister, Sachin Tendulkar, Priyanka Chopra and industrialists among others.
Suvigya came into the spotlight when he presented Prime Minister Narendra Modi with a hyper-real portrait. The portrait, 3.5 ft x 3 ft, is an oil painting on canvas. The national emblem broach tucked into the PM’s jacket is made of 24-karat gold. “It was a proud moment when Modiji explicitly expressed how much he loved the painting,” explains Suvigya, adding that Modi also took the time to understand miniature art, and the ways to nurture it. “The PM also took keen interest in knowing about my aspirations, about creating opportunities for the newer generations. ‘Kalakarji, you are the torchbearer of this art and we are with you’ is what he said to me.”
Pichwai art
The artist says that things turned around when he landed in Mumbai in 2008 after a friend insisted on doing a portrait for his uncle. “I met Priyanka Chopra and many other renowned personalities later. Now, it feels like it was all destiny. Post this, there was no looking back.”
Although Suvigya is into miniature art, he tries to give a modern touch to the traditional art form. “Deviation is a part of life and art. Miniature art has been perishing because it never gained its due recognition. I try to give it a modern touch,” he says, adding that this year, he is experimenting with modern Pichwais.
Just like his grandfather worked with artisans to create miniature art, Suvigya wants to generate opportunities for the underprivileged by training them to become skilled artists. He says, “I wish to get the attention of the Ministry of Skill Development. I would consider myself privileged if I could contribute to this cause.”
