 Thota Tharrani's exhibition
 Alliance Francaise of Madras and Department of French, University of Madras, present 'Symphony, Harmony, Liberty' Art Exhibition by Thota Tharrani till July 21, 2006.
The exhibition opened on July 15 at the Senate Hall, Centenary Building, University of Madras. It is on view at the AFM Gallery.
"The variegated shades blend and weave their way into a symphony that culminate in a harmonious explosion of primeval white." - Thota
Tharrani.
Alliance Francaise of Madras, in collaboration with the Department of French, University of Madras, brings the brilliant and gifted artist Thota Tharrani to adorn the walls of the compact gallery with the glorious harmony of colours and images.
'Symphony, Harmony, Liberty', is the new avatar that the hoary French slogan "Liberte, egalite et
fraternite" takes.
The canvases on display simply reveal a concordance of diverse elements in pleasing combinations evoking a free intermingling of the senses. Colours and shapes are evoked and meld together to inspire in us a fusion that is inspiring, creative and magically frees us from the humdrum routine of everyday life. The unexpected combination far from being chaotic, as in any symphony, allows for harmonious and simultaneous blend of elements within a progressive structure. Weighty and profound thoughts are revealed with traces of wit and humour. The artist explores rare shades and frees areas on the canvas thus rousing deep emotions in the process.
Tharrani's first encounter with art was when he was just five years old. An old Buddha statue in his house aroused his curiosity and this he drew on the floor which served as his drawing board. His first gift was a set of drawing books from his father who was impressed with his maiden work of art. His thirst for knowledge kept him going at a wonderful pace. Till date he has 22 group exhibitions and 28 solo exhibitions to his credit.
 At the age of 17, he enrolled in the Government College of Arts and Crafts. He initiated his series of paintings with water colours. Towards the end of his college education he mastered the technique of the collage. Following his post-graduation in 1971 from the Government College of Arts and Crafts, he worked for a period in
Mumbai.
In 1976, he received a scholarship from the Government of France for deserving students of painting, which took him to Paris where he studied graphic arts from S W Hayter at his studio 'Atelier - 17' (1976-1977).
When Tharrani returned from France, he took up a job as a designer at the Weavers Service Centre in Vijayawada. Again, in 1979, he was invited to the Royal College of Art, London, where he attended a print-making workshop, sponsored by the British Council of India, conducted by Alister Grand.
In 1981 he was again invited by the same to participate in a poster designing camp conducted by the 'X' group. His last scholarship was in 1990 offered by the American government, to visit the United States.
Apart from being an artist, photographer, etcher, draughtsman, Padmashree Thota Tharrani is well-known as an art director, who caused a revolution in the Indian film industry and today shines with a blinding force of intelligence, creativity and genius that nobody can overlook.
He was the second child in the family, with an elder sister, three younger brothers and three younger sisters. He was born and brought up in Madras, then a city with a calm and green atmosphere. Being in the city, he was exposed to city life where there were many learning experiences for him. To him the people then were disciplined, God-fearing and adhered to the rules laid down by the elders.
R Rangaraj
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