Art is a way to express feelings where communication fails. It was rightly said by Oscar Wilde, “Art is the most intense mode of individualism that the world has known”. The first form of communication the people had was in the form of art, through drawings, music, and sounds. We can still find those arts in the caves, those arts were the symbolism of the way our ancestors lived their life. It’s such an amazing thing, what we can understand about our ancestors through some arts that they did in those caves. Art is not about how perfect it is, it’s about what it conveys. Artists should be able to make their work speak for themselves.
The famous Spanish artist Salvador Dali has said, “A true artist is not one who is inspired but one who inspires others”. Manu K M was one such talented artist who inspires others. He took a different form of art and chose to express his talent through leaves. Today’s story is about a leaf artist who wanted to do something different in art.
Manu K M – Leaf Artist
We all start the day with different things in mind. What we have in our mind when we wake up always impacts our whole day. It might make our day a memorable one or it could be worse. So what did our artist have in his mind when he started his day?
‘I always wish to have a good day with no stress. And if I feel my mind is at peace and I’m in a good mood, I would plan to draw. Because drawing makes my day even better.’
If we start our day with good vibes we always end up doing something creative and productive. A starting point would always define our destination, we have to choose the right path to arrive at the right destination. If we start our journey in our life, that path might be less traveled and deserted but it would take you to the intended destination. So the starting point always matters. Where did Mano’s path towards art start? When did he start his journey as an artist and is there any reason behind his start?
‘When I was a child I used to draw simple things from my books. And there was a program called MAD on the pogo channel. The show is about arts and crafts. I used to watch that show and it helped me improve my drawing. I have always been interested in art and that program opened the door towards creativity. It was very creative and helped us to improve our hidden talents. Having those programs on TV, I never felt the need to join any special classes to learn. I kept exploring and learning by watching these programs.’
Hence proved, television is not an idiot box for everything. Some programs indeed help to improve ourselves. Those programs might be fleeting moments in our life but they did make an impact in our life. Life is like a big puzzle, we have to find the right way to solve it.
Life always has something in store for us. Everything that happens in our life always has a hidden reason behind it. So What is that particular incident that made Manu into an artist?
‘I don’t feel I had any particular reason for that. I wish to express my ideas to others and I wish to express them in some creative form so that they could reach and appeal more to the people. Initially, I tried many things, I tried coffee painting, sand art, powder art, doodle art, mandala, etc., but it was familiar to everyone. I wanted to do something different. Finally, I saw a leaf art by a foreigner on Instagram, that was so impressive and unique. That was a eureka moment. It felt as if this was something I had been waiting for all this time, and so, I decided to do the Leaf Art.’
Doing something different and unique in a good way would always earn the right spot in the heart of the people. For doing such unique things one might have to go through some difficulties in life, especially at the beginning. Everyone faces hurdles when they start something new. Did Manu face such hurdles when he started leaf art?
‘Definitely. I just tried as that artist did in that Instagram post. But I failed to do that. The initial stages were very tough for me because I don’t even know what things one should use to draw on leaves. So I had to research and do trial and error with different things until I found the right thing. It was a tedious job, but I had fun exploring.’
The beginning would always be tough but learning is a process. Did Manu start his art journey with pencils and paper?
‘When I was a child I used to draw in such mediums. Let’s just say that the basics of drawings always come to pencil and paper and it all begins in childhood.’
Paper and pencil always do wonders in the artist’s life. It might help the artist to create their form of art to express their feelings. In our short span of life, we would have many transitions, some might be good and some might be bad. From pencil to leaf, when did that transition happen for Manu, and how?
‘As I said, I always wanted to do something different in the form of art. It happened 4 years ago. I tried so many art forms and then saw that leaf artist on Instagram and it inspired me a lot. It just felt as if I had been seeking something and it was and I was finally blessed with it. That’s when my art has transformed. The leaf art made me crack my chrysalis and helped me spread my wings further.’
With every transition, we might have to take the first step towards the new road to begin our quest. What was Manu’s first work in the leaf?
‘My work was of Budha. And then I tried portraits without eyes first. My first celebrity portrait was of Dulquer Salman, my favorite actor.’
The first step always needs courage and enthusiasm. In that path, we might face troubles, it is life’s way to express support. Tolerance is the one thing that would keep going. Nature’s creation has always been tough yet tender. It’s really hard to work with a medium like leaves. It would be very sensitive, one should have the patience to do it. How did Manu manage it? Did it ever stress him out?
‘Yes. Patience is an important thing. If one portion of the leaf is accidentally cut during the process, the entire work will be damaged. At first, I used stainless steel blades to cut leaves but it was very difficult to carve small portions like eyes and nose. So I searched for a perfect tool and found that a penknife can be used to cut leaves. It is usually used to sharpen the pencil leads and it helped me to do fine portions like eyes, nose on leaves. It reduces work stress to a greater extent.’
Passion towards something would make us skillful people in that area. Life is not a perfect road, it would have some speed breaker. We might have to slow down a bit. The lockdown is more like a speed breaker in everyone’s life.
Lockdown has changed so many things. Some found their long-lasting hobbies and for some, it’s hard to confine them to the same place. So how is the lockdown for Manu? Has he picked up any other long-lost hobby of his?
‘Lockdown sure did change everyone’s routine and it also helped many people to express their talent. I worked harder to improve my work. Leaf artists were hard to find in the past but now their numbers are increasing. Around 150 leaf artists are in India. I formed an artist group called Kerala leaf artist. Now it contains more than 90 people. Most of them have started leaf art during the lockdown. Only a few people stick with the leaf art, others are fed up. Patience plays an important role in such art. As for me, I would say lockdown definitely polished my patience level.’
Forming a community would help us improve our skills and grow together.
‘During the lockdown, slowly leaf arts became familiar and many people started to do leaf arts. So I thought about doing varieties in leaves. Like miniature works on leaves and artworks on palm leaves. And I also planned to achieve a record and I am working towards it.’
Speaking of records, Manu has achieved many awards:
- India Books of Records Holder for maximum portraits of Prime Ministers carved on leaves.
- Asia Books of Records Holder for maximum portraits of Nobel Prize winners of Asia carved on leaves.
- Universal Record Forum (Urf) Asian Record for maximum Portraits In Palm Leaves.
Our hard work never fails to pay us back. Manu has won many awards for his talent and hard work, what were his feelings when he received those awards?
‘It’s really a proud moment for an artist when his/her art gets acknowledged. I was so happy every time I received these awards. I haven’t even expected that in my life I would achieve these records for my art.’
There is always one moment that would make us stop and look back at the path we traveled so far to feel that all of the hardships we have gone through were worth it to reach this point in our life. In his career as an artist, what is the one overwhelming moment that made him so happy or proud because he became an artist?
‘Many celebrities started sharing my work through their social media. That made me very happy. Because people began to notice my art and accepted it. They have a huge number of followers, when they started to share my works, many people started to recognize my work. Good opportunities started to come because of that. The newspapers like The Hindu, Indian Express, and many other Malayalam newspapers have featured my works. It made me happy and proud.’
Those moments in life are priceless. There are so many options in life, so as in art. What’s so special about leaves, why choose leaves as his medium to express the art?
‘It was unique, rare to find artists who use leaves as their medium and also the medium that doesn’t cost.’
Individuality would always define us. In the long journey of life, inspiration is what keeps us going. Whenever we are fed up or lose interest, something is always there to lift us. Is there someone or something that inspires Manu? Not as an artist but as a person, someone he looks up to?
‘Self-motivation is my inspiration, and my family and friends are also my strength. Whenever I do something new and creative in my artwork, they always support me.’
Family and friends’ support always matters more than anything in this world. With all that support one could go farther in their life. In everyone’s life, a hidden veil exists and it separates the life as before and after. How was Manu’s life before he started leaf art and after he started it?
‘After I started leaf art people began to notice me, even if they didn’t know my name, they would recognize me as a boy who does leaf arts. Before that, no one knew me except for my family and friends. Leaf art has changed my life.’ Recognition for the talent we have is the great award one could get. And also that’s the best thing that could happen for an artist.
We always tend to choose the right path if we know our destination. Goals and purposes are important to reach that destination. What are his future goals?
‘I wish to do some exhibitions in different parts of India. I have already done one exhibition in the Kerala museum, Pathadipalam at Kochi. I wish to have such exhibitions for my work all over India.’
What is the one piece of advice that Manu wants to give to the budding artists?
‘Keep working on your talents. Success will come if you put in your hard work. It may take time, but don’t give up, good things always take some time to accomplish.’
What is the message he wants to give the readers of this article?
‘Support everyone who has talent even if it’s a small one. Encourage them and motivate them. It would be a great thing to do for them. It would make a difference in their life.’
“A Single act of kindness throws out roots in all directions, and the roots spring up and make new trees”.
-Amelia Earhart
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