AS a child, Ghanamoney Periasamy's favourite pastime was watching his neighbour make beautiful sketches with his pencil.

(From left) Art pieces by Mohana, Sivabalan, Rohini and Vasudevan

Ghanamoney would later rush home to do his own sketches or paint with watercolours.

He grew up to be a barber -- just like his father and grandfather -- but he never forgot the joy painting brought him.

Now at age 57, Ghanamoney has passed the responsibilities of running his barber shop in Kepong Baru, Kuala Lumpur on to his son. With more free time, Ghanamoney enrolled on an art class.

This month, he joins seven other artists -- Dr Suseela Thevi Suppiah, Datin Malliga Selathurai, Jayashree Ramasamy, Sivabalan Balachandran, Vasudevan Nallathamby, Mohana Kumaravelu and Rohini Indran -- in an art exhibition titled 8 held at Symbols House of Natural Art in Brickfields, Kuala Lumpur.
The newcomers were picked out by artist and Symbols House of Natural Art founder Jeganathan Ramachandram.

Jeganathan feels it is crucial to introduce fresh faces to the local art scene.

"There are so many good artists in Malaysia but only a handful of them, particularly Indian artists, are regular exhibitors," he says.

This is partly because major art galleries prefer to feature those who have frequently showcased their works. This leaves new talents with "nowhere to go" to publicly display their art pieces.

Jeganathan hopes to make Symbols House of Natural Art -- a loft art studio set up in 2004 -- a launch pad for new artists looking to get their first big break.

"This will be their ticket to show their works at bigger venues in the future," he says.

The eight artists are grateful to be given a chance to make their debut at the exhibition which started on Aug 16.

"I have been painting since small. Art was something I excelled at in school," says full-time artist Jayashree, who is displaying three nature-inspired artworks.

Participating in the exhibition has been a lifelong ambition for bank clerk Vasudevan.

He considers participating in the group show his first step towards realising hischildhood dream.

Vasudevan is exhibiting three paintings; one of them a self-portrait which he reckons a "challenging" feat.

Other painters were contented just to tell their life stories through their paintings.

Former art teacher Malliga painted Unfelt Bond as a tribute to her husband Selathurai who lost his mother as a toddler.

"The saree and milk vessel in the painting are about 80 years old and they belonged to my mother-in-law. My husband does not have a picture of his mother.

"I painted these images so that he has something to remember her by," says Malliga who gives free art lessons to underprivileged children in Batu Caves, Selangor on Saturdays.

Suseela, a doctor at the obstetrician and gynaecology department of Hospital Tengku Ampuan Rahimah, Klang, on the other hand, is exhibiting two paintings -- a series of nine drawings depicting the epic Dasavatharam from a medical perspective; and a painting of her late mother as a tribute to her dedication to her family.

"My mother took care of her siblings since she was young. Later, she had to raise her five children alone after my father died," says Suseela, who took up painting for relaxation.

Accountant Sivabalan picked up drawing again after a 14-year hiatus. He stopped after his mother died.

Recently, Sivabalan signed up for art classes. His contributions at the exhibition are charcoal sketches of tree barks.

Rohini, a Communications Executive with a non-governmental organisation, is offering portraits of her father and sister.

Putting her father's image on canvas, Rohini says, has helped her to connect emotionally with him.

While most of her peers are in college pursuing professional degrees, Mohana chose to study painting. She is displaying a figurative self-portrait, which is her first art piece.

Jeganathan hopes the art show will encourage fresh talents to come forward and display their works for upcoming exhibitions at Symbols House of Natural Art.

He hopes the showcase will be an annual event.

"I have already identified 10 new artists for an upcoming exhibition. But we may feature more talents of various ethnic groups, if space permits," he says.

Symbols House of Natural Art is located at 120-1, 1st Floor, Jalan Tun Sambanthan, Brickfields. Viewing hours is from 11am to 8pm (Tuesdays to Sundays).

The studio is closed on Mondays and public holidays. The exhibition ends Sept 7. Call 03-2274-0090.