K. Jayakumar Launches 25th Painting Exhibition 'Glimpses' in Thiruvananthapuram

Veteran Bureaucrat and TDB President Jayakumar Returns to Painting with 'Glimpses' Exhibition

K. Jayakumar, former Chief Secretary and current president of the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB), has donned many hats over the years. Renowned as an accomplished administrator and a celebrated lyricist in Malayalam cinema, he is now returning to his original passion—painting—after a pandemic-induced hiatus.

Marking his re-entry into Thiruvananthapuram’s art scene after four years, Mr. Jayakumar’s 25th painting exhibition, titled Glimpses, opened at the Mauve Art Gallery on June 18. The showcase features 22 paintings, including 15 new works and a selection of older pieces from his previous collections.

Speaking about his artistic journey, Mr. Jayakumar expressed his anticipation for public reactions to his work, which he described as emerging from the "cognitive privacy of creativity and the physical seclusion of the artist’s studio." He emphasized that while painting in solitude is fulfilling, the feedback and engagement of viewers provide an artist with the greatest inspiration.

Reflecting on Kerala’s cultural landscape, Mr. Jayakumar observed that while the state excels in literary appreciation, visual arts often take a back seat. He attributed this to a lack of "artistic literacy" in the realm of visual art, noting that audiences sometimes approach paintings with the expectation of a fixed meaning, rather than engaging with the medium’s use of color, form, and composition.

Interestingly, Mr. Jayakumar’s journey into oil painting began relatively late, at the age of 50. His years as a bureaucrat in New Delhi, where he frequently visited art galleries and interacted with prominent painters, played a pivotal role in nurturing his interest. He described the contrast between the "creative chaos" of art studios and the structured life of administration as particularly striking.

While Glimpses does not adhere to a single theme, Mr. Jayakumar noted that an "underlying emotional thread" connects the works. He also spoke of the "creative restlessness" that defines his long hours in the studio, finding inspiration even in imperfections, which he believes bring a sense of serenity to the artistic process.

With Glimpses, Mr. Jayakumar reaffirms his multifaceted identity, blending his administrative acumen, lyrical talent, and artistic vision into a life enriched by creativity.