'joyous abandon' that's the spirit of the lushly coloured paintings by dr.norman guido.
he is a plastic surgeon who battles day after tiring day, with endless devotion in one of the old-style teaching hospitals in bangalore, St.John's. he deals with victims of burns mostly and he attempts to make them look and feel human again. all for a modest salary but then if he wanted money he would have moved on to more lucrative pastures long ago.
after work, the only way this taciturn and bearded doctor relaxes is by painting. he paints bodies, beautiful bodies of women and men who seem to live in a dream world. shapely curves, perfect abs, they exude a bliss that's almost tangible.
but i have had quite a few people ribbing about the voluptuous bodies. yes, they are actually objecting to guido picking up his paint brush and portraying the kind of beauty he wants to imbue his poor burn victims with.
these are the same people who sat glued to see the buxom bikini clad actors on 'baywatch' ! they would have you believe that guido is some kind of voyeur!! what secrets of the body is not he not privy to as a surgeon? he does not need to titillate himself or others.
i'm disgusted with these self-appointed critics. one of them dabbles in art himself but that's what he has remained - a dabbler. this same guy who's been relentless in his loud and needless abuse salivates when he sees young girls and chases them without hesitation.
another wrote a review without seeing the paintings - the brochures were enough for her.
it was only one smart journalist who saw the beauty of the story - of a plastic surgeon who paints beautiful people.
shoba guido was upset that her husband would sink into despair. my advice: as an artist/e/writer or anyone who puts their work out to the public , you have got to take bouquets with brickbats. and as long as what you do makes you happy, keep doing it. if others like it - jolly good for them. if they don't - at least you have had fun!
