The evolution of a Biblical artist

Relishing the charm and divinity of the paintings of Indu Francis that adorn the wall of the Vallarpadom church, Kochi, one cannot help but think of the travails that the painter must have undergone while completing the colossal works. There are 90 paintings, each 14 feet high, portraying the story of Mother Mary, from her life in Nazareth till the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.

Indu says that she is not a spiritual person. But post-Vallarpadom, the blessing of Mother Mary is always with her. “It is quite a while since I have done the paintings,” she says. “Doing them was a challenge that I readily accepted. It was out of passion that I was able to complete them.”

Her favourite series are the ones from Judgement Day to the Crucifixion. “Being a mother myself, I could empathise with the agony that Mother Mary underwent while painting the anecdotes of her life. She is an embodiment of love and sacrifice. My concept about Jesus also changed. From the image of God, I began to see in Him a humanistic angle and a rebellious philanthropist.”

Surrounded by stacks of paintings in her studio-cum-house, the artist says, “My entry to the world of Biblical paintings was unforeseen. I have been a secular person throughout my life.” A Hindu, her life changed when she fell in love and married advertising professional Francis Thadikaran.

 Indu says she was smitten by the beauty of the Biblical world that she was introduced to. “For 15 years, I worked with a magazine named Manushyasnehi run by Fr Bobi Jose Katikal, an experience that gave me more insights about classical Christian art,” she says. “It was enlightening.”

Indu’s numerous paintings portraying stories of the Bible hang on the walls of churches all across the state. Some of the churches are St. Thomas Church in Thumpoly, Allapuzha, San Pio Retreat Centre in Kollam, St. Mary’s Church in Mookannoor, Bishop’s House in Thrissur and a church in Ruwi, Muscat. She has also done paintings in hospitals like Holy Cross Hospital in Kollam, Good Shepherd hospital at Pazhanganad and many others.

 “I feel Biblical paintings have a healing effect, which is why they have been used extensively in hospitals,” says the painter.

Indu has taken part in several solo and group painting exhibitions in Kasargod, Kozhikode, Kochi and Bengaluru from 1988 to 2006. One of her noted exhibitions was ‘Monsoon Fascinara’ that portrayed the varying nuances of the monsoon.

 Along with her six siblings, Indu had always had an artistic bent of mind, from childhood. “My parents — Raghava Menon and Kalyanikutti Amma — encouraged me in my artistic endeavours,” she says. Indu did her BFA in Colour Therapy and Portraits from Chennai. Her masters range from her gurus at art school in Chennai to the late artist Pachukutti. Indu says, “I have also been inspired by the works of Leonardo da Vinci, Amrita Sher-Gil, Raja Ravi Varma, and artist Nampoothiri.”

 Indu’s latest work, ‘Good Samaritan’, unveils the well-known parable of the Samaritan who helps the sick traveller. Indu says, “In the beginning I wanted to be known as an artist, but now, I would like to be described as a Biblical artist.”