Fri May 30 11:03:13 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a summarized news article based on the provided text:
**Headline: Artist’s Brushstrokes Highlight Endangered Western Ghats Birds in Chennai Exhibition**
**Chennai, May 30, 2025:** A new exhibition, “Brushstrokes of Endemic Echoes,” showcases the stunning botanical illustrations of Suresh Ragavan, a veteran artist who has dedicated over three decades to documenting India’s flora and fauna. The exhibition, held at the Kadambari Art Gallery, DakshinaChitra Museum, Chennai, features 157 watercolors depicting endangered birds native to the Western Ghats.
Ragavan, who served as a botanical illustrator at the Botanical Survey of India, meticulously captures the intricate details of each species, from beak shape to feather patterns, often using a microscope for precision. His work bridges the gap between art and science, providing scientifically accurate depictions of these vulnerable creatures.
The exhibition includes depictions of the Pallas’s fish eagle, mangrove pitta, Nilgiri thrush, Vigors’s sunbird, great hornbill, Nilgiri Chilappan, flame-throated bulbul, Malabar grey hornbill and black-and-orange flycatcher and aims to raise awareness about their fragile existence amidst habitat loss, climate change, and human encroachment.
Ragavan emphasizes the unique role of botanical illustration, noting that while cameras can capture images, a skilled artist can interpret and highlight essential details often missed by a lens. “The paintbrush doesn’t just record a plant – it interprets it,” he said.
“Brushstrokes of Endemic Echoes” is open to the public until June 2nd at the Kadambari Art Gallery, DakshinaChitra Museum.
First Piper 