Pune artist’s painting only work from India selected for IWS Biennale 2015

The prestigious art event had received nearly 350 entries from 38 countries across the globe. Among the top 20 paintings, Hiremath’s work stands at the 13th position. Other winning artists hail from different parts of the world such as Russia, Pakistan, Thailand, Iran, Mexico, Germany, China, Greece and Spain. “It is a proud moment for me; I’m very happy. Given the fact that there were more than 300 countries, I wasn’t sure I would make it,” says the 33-year-old artist.

Talking about the winning work, Hiremath says, “It was not based on one photograph but three. Every time I make a painting, I weave a story in my mind and then make a composition for the painting. For this painting, I visualised two women from a village heading to the local market with big baskets on their heads. While one is walking alone, the other is carrying a small child. In reality also, it’s not an unusual sight in Gokarna or in any small village for that matter.” The painting, he says, was made by him in two hours in watercolor, his favourite medium. Hiremath primarily does landscapes and watercolor, which he says is the best medium for landscapes.

Hiremath has acquired his painting skills from his father, who himself was an art teacher at Benadi village in Belgaum, where Hiremath spent his initial years. “I had set my eyes on painting as a career long back. Although my father taught me painting, he wanted me to be an engineer. Following his wish, I did sit for the entrance examination, but before I had to appear for an interview, I decided to follow my passion,” Hiremath says, adding that he shifted to Pune in 2002 and pursued four-year diploma in GD Arts.

Though he got an opportunity to showcase his works at a group art exhibition during his college days, he held his first solo exhibition at Jehangir Art Gallery, Mumbai, in 2012.

Ask him if he would call To The Market his masterpiece, he responds, “For me, my every next painting is my best painting. The attitude inspires me to do a better job than my previous one.”