While Kerala was on a fast lane towards achieving total literacy, there was also an imperceptible fall in the literacy rate among the population, towards understanding and appreciating art. The advent of technology has spelled doom for many traditional forms of art. Painting comes in as one among them. Being a 'painter by birth', as he would like to address himself, Sasikumar Shangrila is one artist who is deeply worried by the illiteracy of the modern population when it comes to art.

“There are two reasons which deteriorated the popularity and value of painting among the modern generation – one is their overexposure to cheap replicas of true art that have been made available in the market for the sole intention of making money,” says the seasoned painter, in an interview with Yentha. “The other is the lack of adequate space for bringing the works of genuine artists to the attention of the public.”

Shangrila Art Gallery, started by Sasikumar Shangrila, was one of the first galleries exclusively meant for painting exhibitions in the city. His own painting exhibition, 'Yet Another Pilgrimage' being held at Alliance Francaise, is the expression of the inspirations that the artist had gone through over the years.

“But to express it with the utmost amount of justice, you need to have a 'guru' residing inside you,” explains Sasikumar. “That teacher is all your experience, the result you gained from your quest for knowledge and the higher truth over the years. It is this teacher that will decide on the strokes and colours for expressing the feeling that has been evoked inside you.”

However, the triumph of the creator does not come with the materialisation of his creation alone; every work of art is made to be accepted and appreciated by the common masses.

“The greatest thrill you receive is when you stand and watch the various thoughts that flash through the face of the observer. The greatest contribution that you can make to the world as an artist is in making people think higher and have their perceptions get more refined in nature.”