Name V.V. Bhageeradhi | ||
Varahagiri Venkatagiri Bhageeradhi (V.V Bhageeradhi, also known as Andhra Turner) (1901-1949) was one of the first painters in Andhra Pradesh. Bhageeradhi was a landscape painter and watercolorist, whose style is said to have laid the foundation for minimalist use of colors in landscape paintings. He elevated landscape paintings in the history of art in Andhra Pradesh.
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Life
Bhageeradhi was born on 21 July 1901, in the village of Mamidigudem, near Anakapalli, Visakhapatnam district, Andhra Pradesh. His father was Varahagiri Narsaraju and his mother was Varahagiri Narasamma. Bhageeradhi showed an inclination to fine arts from childhood. Bhageeradhi learnt techniques in painting from Damerla Rama Rao. Bhageeradhi initially joined the Sir J.J. Institute of Applied Art in Bombay, but had to leave due to ill health; he returned to Rajamundry in the middle of his course and practiced his painting skills.
Career
Bhageeradhi's paintings include Mystery Morning, Coming Darkness, Upper Sunset, Evening Glow, Evening Sky, Kissing Rocks, Giant Rocks, "Ploating Mysts", "Christmas Soil", "Silvery Clouds", "Chandrodayam" and "Suryodayam".
Style
The recognition of a spiritual element in landscape art is present in Bhageeradhi’s art. His paintings are known for his depiction of natural scenery such as mountains, valleys, trees, rivers, and forests. His paintings typically show grand panoramas of imaginary landscapes, generally backed with mountains, often with waterfalls, lakes or rivers. His paintings are somewhat similar to the Chinese style of painting which generally showed only a distant view, or dead ground or mist.
Death
Bhageeradhi died on 19 November 1949, sixteen days after the death of his wife Ratnamanikyam, who was also an artist.
Legacy
Bhageeradhi received many honors and medals for his outstanding artworks. He received medals from the British government, Madras College (among other organizations) then British Governor General Lord Mount Batten, Mahathma Gandhi, Pt.Jawahar Lal Nehru, Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, Justice C.V. Rajamannar, Jayapuram Maharani, Vijayanagaram Maharani, Thiruvananthapuram Maharani, C.W. Cotton,and Dr. T.H Somerwell,. Many of his paintings are in private collections.