Self-taught artist recreates the magnificence of Tamil Nadu’s temples in miniature
S. Kaviyarasan, a 27‑year‑old self‑taught micro‑artist from Chennai, turns the grand scale of Tamil Nadu’s temple sculptures into delicate works that fit on a pencil lead, a piece of chalk or a fragment of sandalwood.
His fascination began in childhood, copying the stone chains of Varadaraja Perumal Temple, the rotating stone ball of Kailasanathar Temple, and the intricate carvings of Sri Margabandeeswarar Temple. Those motifs surface in his miniature pieces, most strikingly in a single‑piece sandalwood Nataraja that also incorporates the sages Patanjali and Vyaghrapada and a tiny Ravana lifting the Himalayas, casting a shadow that resembles a praying figure.
History also informs his work; he has rendered Rajendra Chola I in chalk and paid homage to the Gangaikonda Cholapuram temple, reminding viewers of the lesser‑known Chola ruler’s legacy.
His technical skill has earned a Guinness World Record for carving 617 interlinked chain links from pencil lead, as well as entries in the Asian and Indian Books of Records, and he is now expanding into digital art.
Born to a tailor father and a homemaker mother in Dharmapuri, Kaviyarasan practiced in secret until teachers recognized his talent and encouraged him to compete. He now hopes to bring the subtle language of temple art to a wider audience through exhibitions and competitions.