KNOCKING ON NOSTALGIA'S DOOR

Known for depicting striking traditional doors that give viewers a peek into a bygone age, internationally-popular artist KR Santhanakrishnan, is displaying his work

- MAHIMA NAGARAJU

ON the white walls of Artisera Gallery in Indiranagar is a sliver-y wooden door that doesn't just lead to another white-walled room in the gallery.

With the door slightly ajar, ancient wooden pillars and a courtyard peek through, a small Tulsi 'katte' nestled among them. Entranced by this image from a bygone era, you might even want to step through, like a character from a fantastical story, into another world but alas, it's just a painting.

This installation is one among thousands of door-inspired artworks that artist KR Santhanakrishnan, popularly known as 'door Santhana', has created in his prolific 27-year-long career. "Every person who comes and stands in front of my door, I can see their faces they are smiling and so happy. I can read it in their faces, and eyes - they go back [to the past], and only later, do they come speak to me," says Santhanakrishnan.