UAE Portrait of a Nation: Industrial painter with a hidden finer touch

Shibu Purayin left Kerala to work as an industrial painter in the UAE, sustaining his family and quietly nurturing a talent that his modest words cannot conceal.

Shibu Purayin’s works include Emirati Royalty and landscapes. The painter says he uses his art to express his gratitude for the opportunities life in the UAE has afforded him while a friend says the aShow more

AL AIN // By day, Shibu Purayin works as an industrial painter for a maintenance company.

When away from work, however, the 30-year-old Indian makes brushstrokes of a different kind as an artist.

Purayin is passionate about art, completing works in watercolour, oil paint and pencil, but needs manual work to support his family of eight in Kerala, India.

His dream is to become a professional artist and host exhibitions of his work.

He has painted portraits of several leaders of the country, including President Sheikh Khalifa and Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces.

“I want to give these portraits to Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed as a token of thanks. Working in this country has changed lives of our family members back home,” he said.

Purayin said he never attended an art class, except during his school days.

He began working as a commercial artist in Kerala, painting advertising hoardings and theatre stage backgrounds.

The money, however, was not enough, so four years ago he took a job in the UAE.

While he gets little time to pursue his passion, he paints as often as he can.

“I cannot sleep without drawing and colouring on the canvas. Even while working, I am only thinking about my art work,” he says.

Purayin says his co workers and his supervisor do not realise the extent of his hidden talents.

“I have never shared with anyone in my company. I had a feeling they will not understand my passion and they make fun,” he says.

While he admits the labour camp he lives in is not the perfect place to pursue creative work he has no other option.

“I cannot leave my job. It provides the bread and butter for my family,” he says.

“God has sent me to do something else but poverty has taken away all my dreams. I’m not rich so I’m not sure whether people will take my work seriously or not.”

Despite keeping a low profile, Purayin gains some work from the among Kerala community in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, who hire him to paint.

He sometimes gets freelance art work during the Onam festival time.

“I enjoy doing it but I don’t ask money for my work,” he says. “It is so embarrassing. It is more than enough for me if people consider my work good enough.”

Shaju, a friend of Purayin who works as a grocery supervisor in Abu Dhabi, said he had never met such a talented artist before.

“We initially didn’t believe it but when we met him and saw his work we were so amazed,” he says.

“What other place in the world can be as good as UAE to explore such opportunity. We sincere hope that one day, he will achieve his dream and people started recognising his work.” he says.

Rebia Naim, director of the International Emerging Artist Award in Dubai, believed the UAE was a good place for artists of all social standings to gain recognition.

Art galleries were “constantly in search of the talent who can convey strong message through art”, she says.