Reviving the legacy of Kondapalli Seshagiri Rao: Rare artworks on display in Hyderabad

Reviving the Roots, a retrospective exhibition at State Art Gallery in Hyderabad celebrates the life and works of artist Kondapalli Seshagiri Rao.

Reviving the Roots, the ongoing retrospective exhibition at the State Art Gallery in Hyderabad, celebrates the life and works of the renowned artist, the late Kondapalli Seshagiri Rao. Organised to commemorate his 100th birth anniversary (January 27, 1924), the exhibition provides valuable insights into his creative process and the various phases of his artistic journey.

“The line was an important element for my father. His philosophy was: ‘No line, no art,’” says Kondapalli Venugopal Rao, the third son of Seshagiri Rao, as he guides us through the exhibits. The display includes rare pencil sketches, oil-on-canvas paintings, watercolour on paper, aqua-texture art, and some unpublished writings. According to Venugopal, a significant number of these creations have never been showcased before. “He was well-known for his figurative art, but few are aware of the diverse themes he explored, his expertise in the aqua washing technique, his skill in colour mixing for watercolours, and his passion for research,” he adds.

From portraits and figurative art to a series on birds, rocks, nature, and animals, the exhibition charts Seshagiri Rao’s artistic journey spanning over eight decades. His oil paintings—nearly all of which have been restored by Srinivas Murthy, an art restorer from the Salar Jung Museum—depict scenes from the Ramayana. Meanwhile, a series of 20-odd watercolours on paper narrates the mythological story of Shakuntala.

The influence of the Chinese brush painting technique is evident in intricate artworks featuring delicate brushstrokes and swirls. Venugopal explains that this is a form of single-stroke painting, where the strokes cannot be altered or corrected. “These works reflect his remarkable control over the technique and medium, transforming even spontaneous thoughts into captivating imagery,” he shares.

Venugopal also recalls his father’s encounter with Cheriyal art during the 1950s. While attending a wedding in Cheriyal, he noticed a villager selling scrolls by the roadside. “My father was amazed but heartbroken to see the scroll being sold for ₹1. He took the time to explain the art form’s uniqueness and its rich history and cultural heritage to the villager,” Venugopal recounts. Cheriyal scroll painting is a 400-year-old Nakashi art. Infused with vibrant local motifs, the traditional art captivates with its storytelling narrative. 

He invites art connoisseurs, students, enthusiasts, and budding artists to visit the retrospective, noting that this might be the final exhibition of his father’s works. “Curating such a show is an expensive affair, and we may not be able to organise it again,” he concludes.

Reviving the Roots is on at State Art Gallery till February 5.