Painting the city red with tea

GURGAON: While some workers express their feelings in a hostile manner, there are others who resort to peaceful and creative means. Kamal Sharma, a technician in the Paint Shop of Hero MotoCorp Ltd., he took his passion of painting to the next level.
Born in 1975, in Yamunanagar, Kamal is a self-taught painter and seeks to explore the relationship between imagination and reality through his paintings.He spends most of his time painting new art creations on acrylic or oil canvas with paints and tea water.
Hero MotoCorp, being India's leading two-wheeler company has supported his talent and fad with tremendous zeal. Initially, he was very hesitant to display his paintings in public.
However, when Hero Group took a stand and organized a solo art exhibition to display his work in April 2009, he felt the need of exploring new horizons with his talent. Hero Group chairman, B M Munjal had inaugurated the exhibition appreciating his employee's talent. This exhibition was a turning point in Kamal's artistic journey. One of his paintings is showcased at the chairman's estate, which he made from tea water and acrylic paint. "I am proud to say that apart from manufacturing bikes, we also produce and encourage artists in our Hero family," said B M Munjal, in the exhibition.
He started painting very young. When other kids used to play with toys, Sharma thoroughly enjoyed playing with colours. He was mostly found doodling with crayons in free time, while his friends enjoyed outdoor games. By the time he reached the 10th grade, his hobby had already turned into passion.
He expressed all the positivity he possessed, on the canvas with vibrant colours that had the power to transform, create and uplift one's mood. Even now, as soon as he gets home, he sits to paint for around four hours every day. "Art for me is meditation. Nothing relaxes me more than putting down my thoughts and stress on to the canvas," said Kamal.
With the immense support from the Hero Group and the kick start he got from the management, he has now exhibited his painting in more than 33 art shows throughout the country. He also participated in Authentic India Fair in Austin, United States in 2010. He said that since he earns a portion of his income through his paintings, he invests in painting for charity. In recent future, he will be going to Mumbai for a charity art show, which is to be held to help out cancer patients in the country.
"His paintings are enriched with a thought value and a soul of its own. The colours and strokes he uses, drive contentment in the minds of every viewer," said Anil Dua, Marketting head at Hero MotoCorp Ltd., at Kamal's solo show at Indian Habitat Centre in 2011. One of his present themes, as he quoted before, is meditation.
All his paintings contain an abstract spiritual value, which intends to promote optimism. Apart from the appreciation, he has also achieved rewards and recognitions on the national level. He was awarded the Kalashri award for art by Kalashri Foundation and an award for excellence in art by Sahitya Kala Vikas Parishad.