“Sri Kuchi Sarswathi Sai Sankar Garu”
A renowned fusion artist,has achived a remarkable milestone by creating 127 impromptu live art paintings continuously for 27 hours,earning a prestigious place in the “Book of World Records” with his extraordinary talent and dedication,he captivated audiences with spontaneous creativity and artistic brilliance
Introduction:
Nandi award winner for paintings on Ramayana telefilm on DD, inventor of “Fusion Painting” a
unique fusion of multiple forms of art like music, dance and Veda with painting, a modern art
surrealist, designated Asthana artiste of Sri Datta Peetham Mysore, renowned artiste for fusion
painting on SVBC channel run by TTD, winner of many national and international accolades and
social worker for arts (painting). He is also proficient in story writing (Telugu) and has published
many stories across well-known magazines and runs a cartoon series on the theme “coffee” on
social media platform (Facebook).
Kuchi Saraswati Sai Shankar fondly known as “Kuchi”, he was born into a musical family in
Amalapuram, Konaseema, AP, India. His father “Pandit. Kuchi Veerabhdra Sarma” is a renowned
“Harikadha” vidwan and a very good musician. Kuchi started the art of painting at an early age of
five and is now in the field for over 40 years, he believes in “manodharma” of painting, this following
has made him the master of the fine art. He considers nativity and Prakruthi as his Adi-gurus. He
invented the very unique and innovative “Fusion Painting” by his vast research on Indian tradition &
culture, Bhakti, Vedic and Musical scripts and correlating them to life through his painting and is also
well known for his numerous live performances of fusion paintings across the world. He is a disciple
of eminent artist Bapu. Other than nature, he was inspired by eminent artists, such as Vaddadi
Papayya and Salvador Dali who is a surrealist. He has very good proficiency in Sanskrit which
enabled him to thoroughly understand the essence of various scripts. He completed first-class
bachelor’s degree in fine arts (B.F.A) from Andhra University, Vishakhapatnam in 1990.
Below are significant areas of art where Kuchi contributed:
Fusion Painting
Fusion painting, which is mostly performed live, has many variations based on different forms of art
as below. There are almost no other artists who perform fusion painting with transitional aspect in
focus (Manodharma).
Gatra-Chitra Sammelanam (fusion of all forms of vocal music and painting)
In 2016, he delivered a fascinating Gatra-Chitra Sammelanam live in Avadhootha
Datta peetham, Mysore as his holiness Shri Ganapathi Sachidananda swamy was
divine singing. Following which he was honoured by Shri Ganapathi Sachidananda
swamy to be “Avadhootha Datta peetham, Myosre, Aasthana Chitrakaara”.
Peformed live at Kanchi Kamakoti peetham, Kuchi received blessings from
Jagadguru Sri Jayendra Saraswathi Swamy
Being invited by Sri Sri Sri Tridandi Chinna Jeeyar Swamiji, Kuchi performed live for
the kids of his Ashram and inspired children through his artisticperformance
On an exclusive invitation, performed fusion paintings for various vaaggeyakaras
compositions In the presence of Sri Sadguru Sivananda Murthy of Bhimili,
Vishakhapatnam
Impressed by Kuchi’s performance at Vishakapatnam, global head of Chinmaya
mission, Swami Tejomayananda gave an exclusive invitation for Kuchi to perform at
the Annual Nritya-Sura-Bharathi festival held at Pune during 2010-2011. He
performed live at National music festival “Naada Bindu”
Performed live at Delhi Amity University on the occasion of “Centenary celebrations
of Swamy Chinmayananda” conceived by Swami Chidrupananda and attended by
Sambit Patra and other dignitaries. Received a tremendous response from the
luminaries attended.
Performed live in a special program for Srivaari Brahmotsavam in Tirumala as
Bramostava Chitra Ganam (Srivaari vahana seva Sankeerthana) organized by SVBC
Performed for “Thyagaraja ghanaraaga pancharathna Seva” in Tirumala with 300
artists (musicians). He created amazing painting for each of the pancharatna kritis.
This was very well received by the audience with thunderous applause
Performed live painting for Gnanapeetha awardee Sri Viswanadha Satyanarayana’s
“Ramayana Kalpavruksham” as Ramayana Ramaneeyam in Vishakhapatnam, AP.
In 2019, he participated in Annamayya navavidha bhakthi gaanam, organized by
Sarvaani Gaana Sabha of Chennai rendered by singers such as Nithyasanthoshi and
Gopikapoornima.
Performed live paintings for Hindustani bhajans performed by Harini Rao at
Vishakhapatnam, AP.
Nruthya-Chitra Sammelanam (fusion of various forms of dance and painting)
• Perfomed live painting at Choumullah palace Hyderabad along with renowned
Kathak dancer Smt. Mangala Bhat and group organized by Department of Culture,
Govt. of AP on the ocassoion of World Heritage Day. Received tremendous response
for the program.
Veda-Chitralekhanam (fusion of Sruthi form of God, the Vedas and painting)
• Organized through Vedasaastra Charitable Parishath by Brahmasri Remella
Suryaprakasa Sastry in 2017, Kuchi gave a mesmerizing performance of Veda-Chitra
lekhanam, where in the river bank of Godavari in Rajahmundry, AP, he transformed
Vedic recitals of the four Vedas into precise soul-instilling paintings. His paintings
personified the Vedamatha and Veda Purusha while the Sruti is being recited by the
Veda pandits.
Vyakhya-Chitra Sammelanam (fusion of discourses on Ramanayana, Bhagavatha, etc and
painting)
• Kuchi made another noticeable merge of Ramayana discourse delivered by Sri Salaka
Raghunadha Sarma (President Awardee), and his paintings. He illustrated Lord
Rama’s story as paintings at “Ramayana Ramaneeyam”. His in-depth knowledge of
Ramayana and other scriptures enables him to provide precise interpretation ofthe
crux of these scriptures
Kavitha-Chitra Sammelanam (fusion of poetry and painting)
• Performed live painting at “Ugadi Kavi Samellanam” conducted by Telugu
Department, Andhra University along with a group of poets expressing their
“Kavithas”.
• Performed live painting for important ocassions like Ugadi, August 15th while
various poets are performing live.
Vaadya-Chitra Sammelanam (fusion of instrumental music and painting)
In 2010 at an event organized by MAA TV, he glued fusion music (Mridangam
Maestro Sri Yella Venkateswara Rao) with his painting and created a tide in the
ocean of art
As a tribute to the mandolin legend, U.Srinivas, he performed a live show in Chennai
as Jugalbandi named, “Srinivasa Bhajeham”, a fusion of Mandolin performed by
disciple of U.Srinivas Sri. Aravind Bhargav and painting, where he represented about
50 ragas through his brush
Avadhana-Chitra Sammelanam (fusion of avadhanam and painting)
• He was involved in a reformed Navaavadhanam, a transformed version of
ashtavadhanam (8-fold concentration) evaluated by 8 Pruchchakas (experts). At the
navaavadhanam termed as “ChitraKavithvam”, Kuchi participated as the 9th
Pruchchaka, where Sri Garikapati Narasimha Rao disclosed poetry line by line, while
the colorman revealed his painting stroke by stroke. Performed at TANA, USA and is
the first of its kind as nobody has ever attempted this feat before.
Padya-Chitra Sammelanam (fuison of padya’s and painting)
He performed live paintings online for 108 padyas from “Annamayya Alamelumanga
Venkateswara Satakam” by Annamaacharya rendered from Texas USA in 2020
Kadha-Chitra Sammelanam (fusion of stories and painingting)
• He performed live paintings expressing the extract of the story while renowned
authors are performing online for B+ program, Texas, USA.
Exclusive Painting Projects (based on traditional and Vedic concepts)
These projects are done offline and is based on traditional and Vedic concepts.
• Performed live painting (Gatra-Chitra sammelanam) along with the likes of Sri. Unni Krishnan and
Sri N. Santanam at Sri Syama Sastry 10th National Music festival 2022, Kanchi, Tamilnadu
• Performed live painting (Gatra-Chitra sammelanam) in front of his holiness Kanchi Swamy Sri Sri
Sri Vijeyendra Saraswathi swamiji on the occasion of Sri Tyagaraja Aradhana Festival 2022.
Surrealism
Kuchi is equally attracted to surrealism as with the traditional painting (which he calls as
Manodharma) because of the inspirational works from world renowned surrealist Salvador Dali. He
believes each form of the art has its own expression and characteristics. He tailored surrealism with
main focus on “Prakruthi” and “Purusha” who are the cornerstones for the world’s existence as per
the Indian philosophy. Took inspiration from Bhagavadgita, Ramana Mahasrhi and swami
Vivekananda’s preaching’s, various ragas and created many works on the above-mentioned themes.
• He had a solo surrealist paintings exhibition conducted in TANA, US.
• Few more surrealist paintings were exhibited at the South Zone Cultural camp Tanjaore,
Tamilnadu.
• Curently working on a surrealist painting exhibition work to be held at Mumbai very soon.
• Attended an art camp on surrealism by Kerala Lalithakala academy on invitation.
Social Work
• Every year, he teaches painting techniques to kids in a workshop, organized by SSY
(Siddha Samadhi Yoga) in Hyderabad and organized by Chinmaya Mission in
Vishakhapatnam, AP.
• He teaches art to Government school kids every year and inspires them in a live painting
workshop, organized by Sahaja Foundation, Hyderabad, TS
• He also teaches to kids in various summer camps organized by government agencies as well as
NGOs.
• Performed at many orphanages and old age homes organized by NGOs
Significant Awards
“Chitrakala Visarada” 2022 by Arsha Vigana Samithi, Tirupathi.
Nandi award for paintings on Ramayana for tele film “Vande Valmiki Kokilam” for DD
presented by then Hon’ble Chief Minister for AP Sri N. Chandrababu Naidu.
Appointed as Avadhootha Datta peetham, Myosre, Aasthana Chitrakaara by his holiness Shri
Ganapathi Sachidananda swamy
Inivited as a chief guest from India for the Telugu Cultural Festival to be held in October 2019
organized by prestigious Silicon Andhra group, CA, US
Arun Guttikonda award for excellence in painting at TANA, USA
Gold Medal for traditional/folk painting “Erukala Sani” presented by Navrang chitrakalaniketan
AP.
Nannayya Sahasrabdi traditional painting award presented by Nannaya Kala Peetham AP.
“Chitra Kala Prapoorna” title by Chitra Mitra, AP.
Telugu Velugu Puraskaram by Kalavedika, AP
Kala Samsad award by Kala Samsad, AP.
And many more….
Part of prestigious TTD National Sanskrit University ongoing Anjanadri project (2021)
Performed live paintings for “Annamayya Alamelumanga Venkateswara Satakam” online for “B+”
program, Texas, USA
Portrayed contexts of 108 kritis of Saint Thyagaraja “Thyagaraja Vaibhavam”,
Portrayed 108 kritis of Annamacharya on palm leaves “Annamayya Sankeerthana Vaibhavam”
Portrayed other kritis on various occasions, along with kritis of Ramadasu
With the blessings of Lord Venkateswara, Kuchi has portrayed “Palikedidi Bhagavathamata”
representing Pothana Bhagavatham initiated by SVBC channel of TTD
Invited for a mega pan India painting camp by South Zone Cultural Centre, Tanjavur, Ministry of
Culture, Govt. of India for 10 days. He participated in the camp along other eminent artists
across India. He worked on “patriotic” theme and created surrealist paintings on “Pulwama”
and “Towards India”. These were very much appreciated in the camp.
Involved in a prestigious project “Suprabhata Vaibhavam” headed by the legendary director, K.
Raghavendra Rao, Kuchi brought to life the visualization of Lord Venkateswara Suprabhatam
(sung by M S Subbu Lakshmi)
Has potrayed “Mahabharta” paintings and also created animations for the same for Sri
Venkateswara University, Tirupathi, AP.
Portrayed paintings for “Bheeshma Stavarajam” written by Sri Puchha Ramana. This is a very
unique feat as no one has attempted this before.
Solo painting exhibition on “Tyagraja Kirtanas and Anamayya sankirtanas” conducted by Sri
Annamacharya Project of North America, Chicago.
Portrayed jayadeva’s “Geetha Govindam” and Kalidasa’s “Megha Sandesam”
Created portraits of Nannaya, Pothana, Kalidasa, Tyagayya, Annamayya, Kshetrayya, Sidhendra
Yogi etc.
Conducted many solo painting exhibitions at USA, Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Bangalore, Puneetc.
All of the above were invented, designed and implemented by Sri Kuchi, as he wanted to provide the
status of “performing art” to his inborn fine art. Possessing tremendous wisdom, he made an
extensive research on the scripts of carnatic kritis and poetry penned by Saint Thyagaraja, Sri
Muthuswamy Deekshithar, Syama Sastry, Kavi Kalidaasu, Jayadeva, Purandaradaasu, Meera and
Annamacharya and Adi Sankara which eventually led him to visualize the interwoven bond between
painting and other forms of arts. He unveils the essence of any script into a traditional painting and
has achieved astounding acclamation from national and international audience for his innovative
approaches of blending various forms of art from 2002 until today, for about 17 years with
numerous live performances.
“Sri Kuchi Sarswathi Sai Sankar Garu”
A renowned fusion artist,has achived a remarkable milestone by creating 127 impromptu live art paintings continuously for 27 hours,earning a prestigious place in the “Book of World Records” with his extraordinary talent and dedication,he captivated audiences with spontaneous creativity and artistic brilliance
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