Doley to attempt world record by painting with nose on 1200-sq ft canvas
GUWAHATI: He certainly has a “nose for art”!
A 28-year-old artist-cum-activist from Jorabat is all set to spread a message against rhino poaching by painting with his nose on World Environment Day on Wednesday.
Sirumoni Doley, who has over 15 records to his credit, claims that the oil paint work on canvas spreading 1200 square feet will be the world’s largest painting done by nose.
“The theme for the oil paint work on canvas tomorrow is ‘Mission Save Rhino’ and the solo effort should take about eight to nine hours,” Doley told The Shillong Times on Tuesday.
The talented artist, along with Radiant International School, Sonapur (the venue of tomorrow’s event), where he teaches art, has taken up the initiative to generate social awareness against rhino poaching.
Asked what inspired him to try the unconventional paint work, Doley said, “While painting was a passion since I was four years old, I wanted to do something unique since 2010. I started using mouth, tongue to paint at first. Later, I settled for the nose and have already completed more than 80 such paintings. My works have been exhibited in New Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai and Jharkhand among other places outside the Northeast.”
“This unique initiative will not be just an attempt to enter the ‘Asia Books of Records’ and the ‘Guinness Book of Records’ but an effort to convey a message to protect Assam’s rhinos from poachers. Besides, the canvas will also have a message against deforestation,” he said.
Doley had completed eight paintings with his nose at one go while riding a scooty in 2017.
“I have also spread messages on canvas with themes such as ‘Save Majuli from floods’ in the past and the uniqueness of my work does help get attention which is how the awareness spreads,” Doley said.
Not just paintings. The ingenious young man has a knack for craft work as well, having carved a 31-foot long bamboo selfie stick and a 91-foot paint brush weighing five quintals, which helped him register his name in the ‘India Book of Records’ and ‘World Record India’.
About his future goals, Doley said he wanted to set up a museum to exhibit not only his work but also of others who might not have a medium to showcase and preserve their creativity. “Besides, I also run an NGO which mainly spreads awareness on nature and wildlife conservation among schools across the state,” he said.