Unlike many of his contemporaries who moved to other cities in India and the world,Malayali artist CN Karunakaran chose to live in his home state. In the early 70s,he established Chitrakootam,one of the first private galleries in Ernakulam,Kerala. Years later,he is known not just for his figurative work,but also for raising art awareness in the region. The artist is in Delhi for the launch of a book dedicated to his art. Titled Mythic Imagination (Chintha Publishers,Rs 3,000),it chronicles his work from the 50s to the present. The book has no theme in particular and features the best of my paintings. It includes my work on literature,nature and celestial experiences. For instance,one of the works depicts enticing birds and animals and exquisite forms of trees and foliage, said the 74-year-old artist,adding that the publication took one and a half years to complete. Artist Arpana Caur and TKA Nair from the Prime Ministers Office (PMO) were present at the book launch that took place on Monday at World Book Fair at Pragati Maidan. Ashwini Ramesh and Swati Mehta The writers are students of EXIMS
