RK creates Artistic Masterpieces using his feet

Ramakrishnan Narayanaswamy (RK) Foot Artist : Student member of MFPA (since Sept, 1990)

Ramakrishnan ( RK as he likes to call himself) is orthopaedically handicapped, suffering from cerebral palsy.

RK got jaundice at birth , and this damaged his motor movements, which was not detected at that time. Later, after 6 months since the milestones were getting delayed, on checkup it was told he had cerebral palsy.

This rendered him absolutely without any control over his motor movements. Due to his handicap, he could not attend school, was home taught and is dependent on others for his daily activities.

But this did not stop him from trying to do things with his foot. With his right foot and two good toes he began doing most of the tough chores like opening the door , operating the remote etc .

He has an exceptionally above average IQ, is a keen observer. He used to build structures using lego blocks, solve the rubik cube puzzle, move chess coins all with his right foot.

His uncle, who is an architect, encouraged him to paint on eggshells, and he realised he loved working with colors. He began experimenting with colors from the age of 15 years and since then, there has been no looking back. His works were being recognized and in 1990 RK Studio started. RK , today is one of the top names in the Mouth and Foot Artists league.

He became a member of the MFPA( mouth and foot painting artist) association in 1990, from which he receives a monthly stipend and this has helped him to lead a dignified life and continue with his painting.

His first exhibition was in 1992 and there have been many more since then. RK has been a part of the jury that screened the works of artists with disabilities at India Inclusion Summit for their event Art for Inclusion

His other interests are watching movies, listening to music and playing chess.

” I had the full support of my family to pursue my interests and talents , and it was because of this I could achieve so much ” – says RK

Participated in Demonstrations/ Competitions:

Demonstration for Nelson Global impact day at TCS campus on 11.5.2017. the painting he did there was bought by a team from the office.
Bengaluru Habba, December 2017, demonstrated and exhibited few of his works
Bengaluru Airport Habba, May 2018, participated in the art show.
Demonstration at Accessibility week at JP Morgan Stanley chase on 27.9.2018
Demonstration at Dell technologies “Big Mission event in Blru on December 5^th 2019

Exhibitions held:

MFPA group show in Taiwan 1991
Solo Exhibition at ANZ Grindlays Bank gallery at Breach Candy, Bombay in July, 1993.
Joint exhibition “Harmony of colours” with Amalraj, held at Chitra kala parishad, Bangalore, in April 2001.
Prakrithi, an art exhibition with Amalraj at the Cottage Café, Central Cottage Emporium in Bangalore in Feb/ March 2004.
Prakriti, Solo exhibition at Nehru Centre, Worli, in May/ June 2007.
MFPA group exhibition in Singapore 2012
Nature, a collection of Painting held at Baratiya Vidya Bhavan, Bengaluru, May 2017.
MFPA meet in Goa February 2019.
MFPA meet, Karnataka chitrakala Parishath, Bengaluru 2020

Awards won/ Significant Achievements:

Painting titled “Floral Tribute” selected by VDMFK for reproduction as greeting card in April 1994.
Award for exhibit titled “ The Yellow Flower” at the 103^rd All India Annual art exhibiiton by Bombay Art Society in March 1995 at Jehangir Art Gallery.
“Lala Kailashpat Singhania Award” for outstanding achievement for the year 1998 from NASEOH in Dec 1998.
“Jidda Puraskar” in memory of late Rajendra Khandelwal in Pune, August, 2002.
Painting of trees with flowers selected by VDMFK for reproduction as calendar/ greeting card in Feb 2007.
Award from spastic society of Mumbai for independent living 2011
Award from the spastic society of Mumbai for excellence in art 2012
Award from Adapt, Mumbai for excellence in art 2019

TV/ Newspaper Coverage: