Born with talent, he is a celebrity in the world of shades and colours, he is an artist who was renamed officially by adding the word ‘ART’ to his name ‘JOHN’, Johnarts Kalabhavan. Hard work and dedication has taken him to a point where he holds a magnificent position in the ‘India Book of Records’ for creating and presenting water media caricatures of more than 476 prominent personalitiesfrom various social strata, worldwide,including politicians, actors and actresses, singers, writers, sports personalities etc. For all his presentations he has maintained the caricature size as 100cm x 70cm. Presently he has his name recorded in the ‘Asia Book of Records’ for caricature presentation in 49 countries. Johnarts is the first Asian artist to possess such a record. Recently he was conferred the Honorary Doctorate Degree, “Doctor of Record Breaking”, at the World Records University for “Most Number of Caricatures Presented on Stage”.
Hailing from an ordinary family, of Alappuzha district in Kerala, little John, was lucky enough to have parents who understood their child and gave chance to nurture his flairfor drawing, during his childhood. After getting diploma in drawing and painting, John joined Cochin Kalabhavan, as faculty member. As in the case of any other student or teacher community, where it always proved to be the turning point, John too found his life taking a new turn at Kalabhavan. Sharing his days with the great artists at Kalabhavan, John was then living the most memorable days in his life. His experience as an artist glided through Satyadeepam, Kerala Times, Janmabhoomi,Cochin Shipyard etc. Though he was mostly into teaching profession, providing insight of the techniques in drawing and painting to his students, he was more attached to the art of wall paintings. Thus he never left a chance to work on paintings at the various church Altars. It was during these days he adopted the name ‘Johnarts’ was conferred on him as an appreciation of his talentwhile assisting the Papal Honour recipient artist N.P.Luis, to paint the ‘Altar’ at a church in Kerala.
Finally destiny took him to lead an expatriate life in Kuwait. In his expatriate tenure exceeding 20 years, Johnarts gained his name and fame as a talented artist. While working here in Kuwait, he was appointed as the palace artist by the Ruling Family and it lasted for long 7 years. He was the first Keralite who served as a drawing teacher with the Kuwait Ministry of Education. Much recognition came his way all through his artistic life. Recognition by Kerala Lalitha Kala Academy in 1991, the ‘Golden Casket’ received from Shaikha Majida Nawaf in 1994 and the Indian Embassy Award in 1998 are few of them. In 2000 he got the chance to design the postal stamp of Kuwait. In 2013 he was bestowed the title’ Best Cartoonist’ by FOCUS Kuwait taking into consideration the incomparable contribution made by him to this art form.
Johnarts was eager to experiment with all media of paintings with his own unique style. The vast collection of his paintings varies in its theme and realistic presentation. Even though most of his work was done in oil media, he has tried his expertise in the rare ‘Tempera’ media too. He was awarded by Major Arch Bishop Antony Padiyara in 1990 for the best Altar painting which he has done in Tempera media at St.Joseph Church, Thirunalloor in Kerala. In this he had portrayed the Crucified Jesusspotted with Mother Mary being pacified by Yohannan and the weeping Mary Magdalene. Yet another master piece by him is the ‘Last Supper’ portraying Jesus wearing the crown of thorns and his disciples with an expression of eagerness to have his blood, serves a different dimension to its usual concept.
The arts school under his guidance in Kuwait has now in credit more than 6000 budding artists. The whole hearted support from his wife Moly and two sons, Jomon and Jomin, acts as the catalyst for Johnarts’ artistic endeavors. He considers the inherited talent of his sons in the field of drawing and painting as the immense blessings from the lord almighty.
On behalf of the whole Indian expatriate society in Kuwait IIK team congratulate Dr. Johnarts Kalabhavan for his glorious achievements and wish him all the very best in his career.