Sunlight Portrait Art Of Thanthai Periyar

Honouring Thanthai Periyar Through Sunlight: A Tribute Carved in Light

Erode Venkatappa Ramasamy, widely revered as Periyar or Thanthai Periyar, was not just a social reformer—he was a revolution in himself. A fierce critic of caste-based discrimination, gender inequality, and blind faith, Periyar lit the torch of rationalism and self-respect in Tamil Nadu at a time when society was heavily shackled by orthodoxy and oppression. As the founder of the Self-Respect Movement and the Dravidar Kazhagam, his ideas shook the foundations of injustice and continue to shape the identity and pride of the Tamil people even today.

He is rightly called the Father of the Dravidian Movement, and his legacy is etched in every voice that speaks for equality, justice, and rational thought.

As an artist who works with the sun itself—creating images not with paint, but by burning light onto surfaces—I felt a deep, personal calling to honour Periyar in the way I know best: through Sunlight Art. This method is a meditation. It requires not only skill but also patience, stillness, and a deep connection to the source of energy I work with—the sun.

For this portrait of Thanthai Periyar, I didn’t just want to create a visual representation. I wanted to create an experience—both for myself and for those who witness the final work. This was more than art; it was an offering, a silent conversation between Periyar's fiery legacy and the raw, untamed power of the sun.

The Journey and the Process

To bring this vision to life, I travelled 30 kilometres from my place in search of a space that resonated with the spirit of this tribute. I chose a peaceful, natural setting—a rice farm, surrounded by greenery, silence, and open skies. The rural landscape reminded me of the roots of our society—of the people Periyar fought for, and the soil from which movements of great strength often rise.

There, amidst nature, I began my work.

The entire artwork took five continuous days to complete. Each day, I worked during the peak sunlight hours, patiently focusing the rays through my magnifying tools, burning the lines of Periyar’s face onto the canvas. Each burn mark was deliberate. Every stroke was slow and sacred. The process cannot be rushed—just like social change, it demands time, endurance, and unwavering belief.

In those five days, I wasn’t just making a portrait. I was living with the essence of Periyar—his boldness, his resilience, his relentless spirit. The sun became a symbol of his clarity and strength, and I became a medium through which that light could shape his image, quite literally, into being.

A Portrait That Breathes Fire and Truth

This artwork is more than a tribute—it is a living, breathing reminder of a man who dared to question, who dared to resist, and who lit the path for generations to come. And it was made using the most primal source of light—sunlight itself. There is something deeply poetic in that.

I hope this portrait inspires others to look back at Periyar’s life and reflect on his teachings with renewed clarity. Because the fight for equality, for self-respect, for justice—it is not over. But with every ray of light, and with every act of remembrance, we move a little closer to the future he envisioned.

This is my humble offering to Thanthai Periyar. Made with sunlight, shaped by nature, and powered by purpose.