Self-taught Coimbatore-based artist Dr Sasithar balances two divulging paths ; the meticulous nature of his profession as a dentist with the freedom of expression afforded by his passion for art.
Reflecting on how he keeps creativity alive amidst the busyness of everyday life, he says, “I think I am lucky to have to balance two very different walks of life. Dentistry is very meticulous and rigorous. But art has no rules. So it’s fascinating to navigate among them. Art is a way of life and so dentistry never came in my way. It was another thing that gave me peace and peace is all we live for.”
Everyone should paint and I say that because it is the act of creating something rather than just making something.
Going back to how he found this source of peace, Sasi harkens back to the first moment he felt his passion spark, saying “I vividly remember the day when my art teacher saw one of my still lifes (that i had copied from somewhere) and showed it to the class and gave an applause. This was one of the first moments when I felt like I could do art.”
Beginning with painting replicas to now experimenting with surrealism, expressionism and styles akin to abstraction, Sasi’s art journey has been one rooted in a constantly evolving approach.
Whether his style or his inspirations, change seems to be the only constant, with Sasi explaining, “I think my art can be put into surrealism or even automatism. But I keep changing from one style to another in every painting so it keeps changing,” adding, “In terms of inspiration, I do like Gustav Klimt‘s works and also Edward Munch but it’s always no one in particular but rather different works from different artists.”
This penchant for evolution and experimentation can also be seen in Vengayam, his latest exhibition at Chennai art space Kannadi Cupboard. Described as “a curation of paintings that reflects on the self and on global events,” the show – which took place at the end of November – is one that invited interpretation and self-reflection from audiences.
Talking about the show’s theme and title – which translates to onion – he says, “The show was about a series of works that I had experimented with during 2025. It involved a lot to do with layers, hence the name. This series was particularly fun to make because of the many layers that kept adding up and it started revealing so many new things.”
The show’s intent of allowing audiences to shape their own interpretations also reflects what art means to Sasi. On what advice he’d give others about taking the artistic path, he says, “I have no advice except art is a fun and therapeutic activity. Everyone should paint and I say that because it is the act of creating something rather than just making something.”
Establishing himself and getting people to look at and take note of his work – all of Sasi’s goals for his art are straightforward. But asked what the best compliment he’d received so far is, he says, “People say, ‘Oh your paintings are scary and dark, it makes me uncomfortable.’ That is what I intend to do” ; so maybe at the root of it all there rests an unsaid goal of evoking feeling in those immerse themselves in his creative world.
Check out more of Sasi’s art on his Instagram
(Images courtesy of Sasithar)
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