Hyderabad | Naik City, art from the gaze of an autorickshaw

Autorickshaws are a recurring motif in artist Rajesh Naik’s work. For him, autos have been windows to the world since childhood. Growing up in Hyderabad’s Old City, he often watched — and at times accompanied — his father, who earned a living by driving an autorickshaw. Eventually, Rajesh too began driving after school hours to earn pocket money. From the driver’s seat, he observed life on the streets, engaging with passengers and absorbing the vibrant energy of the city.

At home, he watched his mother stitch and embroider to supplement the family income, a skill practised by many Lambada women.

Rajesh’s journey with art began in Class II, and over the years, he found a meeting point between his parents’ vocations in his work. His quirky drawings, adorned with colourful motifs printed on rexine fabric (commonly used in autos), became his signature style. He describes his art as a fusion of drawing, painting, stitching, and printmaking. “Initially, I tried painting on canvas. I trained under Rajeshwar sir (artist Rajeshwar Rao) for five years, but I was not satisfied with what I could create. Printmaking, however, helped me discover something new,” he explains.

His art is also deeply rooted in local pop culture, incorporating Dakhni phrases, religious imagery, movie stars, and comics. “Everything from the colourful products on the streets to the lights I saw through the rear-view mirrors of the auto fascinated me. I tried to bring all of that into my art,” he says.

Now a final year master of fine arts student at Potti Sreeramulu Telugu University, Rajesh has previously exhibited his works in group shows. His first solo exhibition, Naik City, will open in Hyderabad this weekend, featuring more than 50 of his artworks.

One of Rajesh Naik’s artworks
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement

Rajesh says his interest in art blossomed under the guidance he received at Sanskriti School, founded by veteran artist B.A. Reddy and run by his daughter Padma Reddy and son-in-law A. Rajeshwar Rao — all renowned artists in their own right. “I was not great at academics, but I always looked forward to my art classes,” he recalls.

Curator Annapurna Madipadiga of EkChitra describes Rajesh’s artistic style as a confluence of B.A. Reddy’s deft storytelling, Rajeshwar’s quirky drawing techniques, and Padma’s finesse in printmaking. “Unknowingly, Rajesh has absorbed the best techniques from all three artists and now tells his own stories in a compelling way through his art,” she explains.

Rajesh was also mentored by the esteemed artist Laxma Goud, and Annapurna credits his discipline and dedication to that tutelage.

When Rajesh decided to pursue art as a degree at Sri Venkateshwara College of Fine Arts, it was an unfamiliar path for his family. However, he did not face resistance. “As long as I contributed financially to the family, they had no objections,” he says. To support himself, Rajesh drove autos in the evenings and nights, earning up to ₹5,000 a month.

His breakthrough moment came when he won an annual contest held by the State Gallery of Art, Hyderabad, which led to the opportunity to host his first solo exhibition.

Apart from autorickshaws, the architecture of Hyderabad’s Old City are a part of Rajesh Naik’s artworks
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement

Annapurna titled the exhibition ‘Naik City’ to highlight Rajesh’s distinctive perspective on life on the streets of Hyderabad. For Rajesh, the autorickshaw is more than just a vehicle — it is a friend. He even likens it to Michael Jackson, believing that, just like the King of Pop, an auto can fluidly navigate the city’s bylanes with ease!

His fascination with superheroes also finds its way into his art, with Spider-Man frequently appearing in his works, symbolising the superhero-like agility of the auto. One of his artworks is humorously captioned, “Pushpa ka auto hai, rukega nahin sala…” (This is Pushpa’s auto — it will not stop, mate!).

As Rajesh gears up for his first solo exhibition, he is eager to see how visitors respond to his work. “I will be completing my studies soon and hope to work as an artist in New Delhi for a couple of years to gain more experience,” he shares.

(‘Naik City’ will be on view at State Gallery of Art, Madhapur, Hyderabad, from February 14 to 23)