Betel juice & lime his medium

KOCHI: Dinesh R Shenoy is an unusual artist. Instead of using paints, he uses a pen and a concoction of betel juice and lime. He paints in the bichromatic sepia style. When you look at the work, it seems like an embroidery work. “With natural substances, you can do good paintings,” he says. “I want to change the perception that you need paints and brush to make images.” The paintings are ususual: there are large trees with swaying branches and huts in what looks like a forest. Most of the works are set in a rural milieu. This is the first time Dinesh is holding an exhibition of this type of painting. Earlier, he had done oil works, which have been displayed at the Hill Palace, and one on Dutch ships has been kept at the Centre for Heritage Studies, Tripunithura. “I have also done paintings of the Cheraman Juma Masjid, the first mosque in India, as well as the Old section of the Ernakulam Government Hospital, and many more,” says Dinesh. “My aim is to preserve the images of ancient buildings through my paintings.” The exhibition continues at the Durbar Hall, till April 29.