From millets to masterpieces: Visakhapatnam artist Moka Vijay Kumar bags international recognition

Visakhapatnam artist Moka Vijay Kumar pioneers millet art, promoting nutrition awareness through intricate paintings of famous personalities.

Visakhapatnam-based artist Moka Vijay Kumar, who makes art works with millets, has gained international recognition by securing a place in the America Book of Records as the first artist in the realm of millets. His achievement was recognized on March 25, reinforcing his status as a pioneer in an art form that combines creativity with nutritional awareness of millets. He had recently done a series on US President Donald Trump, capturing some of the milestone moments of his life.

An employee of the Indian Railways, Vijay Kumar has been painting with millets for years, transforming tiny grains into intricate works of art that depict mythological tales, famous personalities, human emotions, and the beauty of Nature. His paintings, created entirely from different types of millets, serve as a powerful medium to promote the significance of these nutrient-rich grains in diets. Vijay Kumar’s journey as an artist has always been intertwined with innovation. Initially trained in conventional art, he discovered the potential of millets as a medium that not only adds texture and uniqueness to his creations but also spreads a crucial message about sustainable food choices. “Millets have been an integral part of Indian diets for centuries but gradually lost prominence with the rise of refined grains. I wanted to use them not just as a medium for his art but also a means to reignite awareness about their health benefits,” he says. Vijay Kumar hopes that the recent recognition from the US will bring the global spotlight on millets and India which is the world’s largest producer of millets. Through his works, he aims to remind people of the nutritional and ecological advantages of millets, which are drought-resistant and require minimal resources to grow. Over the years, Vijay Kumar has produced hundreds of paintings using millets, featuring deities from Hindu mythology, celebrated figures from Indian history. His works are a testimony to his artistic finesse and his dedication to spreading awareness about healthy eating habits.

Each painting requires meticulous effort and takes days to complete, as the grains are carefully selected, sorted, and placed to achieve the desired hues and textures. The artist mainly uses ragulu (finger millet), arikalu (kodo millet), sajjalu (pearl millet), and samalu (little millet) in his works. His artwork has been showcased at various exhibitions.

He is currently working on a series on Jesus Christ. “It is a work in millets that will depict the 14 Stations of the Cross. I will be releasing it on Good Friday,” says the artist.

Last year, Vijay Kumar bagged the title in India Book of Records 2024 as an IBR Achiever (for exceptional and noteworthy feats) for making 50 paintings of famous personalities including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the late APJ Abdul Kalam using millets. He has won many awards in the past for his millet works.