The name Thota Vaikuntam instantly conjures a vision of figures, mostly women, and man, in particular, is frequent subjects for his works clad in brilliantly hued garments grafted on to local tradition through his choice of subject and costume. One might argue, as indeed does the artist, all subjects are dressed in vivid primary colours, and have perfectly interchangeable heart-shaped faces with voluptuous lips.
The progression is interesting to see, especially since most people are not as familiar with Vaikuntam's earlier works. One gets the impression that they have grown larger than life.
Vaikuntam's muses will always remain the same; he was inspired decades ago by what K.G. Subramanyan, one of his teachers, had said: "Do what is in your story." Born in Telangana's Burugupalli, Vaikuntam has always been driven to his subjects close to his roots, his works subjects concentrated on his immediate surroundings. Vaikuntam's art has a sense of strength to it, a power that emanates from the paint or charcoal that he applies to the surface, from his controlled lines, and from the fine strokes that he executes.
Vaikuntam is famous for his colourful paintings. However, like every other artist of his genre, he started with charcoal when he was still exploring art. His early series of works depicts everyone and everything from the village - scholars, farmers, devadasis, utensils, pots, measuring scales and doors. The series reflects the various shades and ethos of rural India and is a revelation of the inspiration that he draws from life around him. And the inspiration continued, as the art evolved.
His graphite and charcoal work infused with the interplay of sombre shades, the edge of the lines in the works seem to blend up by an invisible stroke. His artworks glow in the brightness of their own which halo him in a way that he forever belongs to rural, rustic Telangana and in no other topography.
Thota Vaikuntam has worked steadfastly over the years pursuing a singular vision to formulate human image in union and solitude located simultaneously in the present and in conversation with its antecedents in the past'.