The Magic of Art: Inside Mahesh K. Narayanan’s Monumental Sculptures

Kerala: Mahesh K. Narayanan, a sculptor from Pattambi in the Palakkad district, Kerala, has steadily built a reputation for creating large-scale sculptures that now stand across India.

His latest and most significant work, a 24-foot-tall statue of John the Baptist, has been installed at the park of St. John’s Medical College in Koramangala, Bengaluru.

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The sculpture, made of concrete, is considered the largest statue of John the Baptist in the world.

Speaking to Timeline, Mahesh said the project took four months of continuous effort.

The work was completed with the support of his team members Rakesh Kannan, C.P. Suresh, Rajesh Nooranad and Akshay. Built for My Heart Creations, the towering structure now stands prominently near the medical college campus.

Mahesh completed his formal art education at Silpachithra College of Fine Arts. However, his journey into sculpture began much earlier and in a simple way.

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In 2004, while constructing his house at Kunathodi in Pattambi Koppam, Pulassery, he experimented with leftover cement and sand.

From that material, he created a small one-and-a-half-foot sculpture of a girl’s face. That early work marked the beginning of his transition from painting to sculpture.

As a child, Mahesh was deeply interested in drawing and painting.

Over time, he began exploring three-dimensional forms. One of his early notable works was a miniature sculpture (4-inch) of actor Mohanlal.

He personally handed it over to the actor during a film shoot in Ottapalam, an experience that encouraged him to continue pursuing sculpture seriously.

From those early efforts, Mahesh went on to create more than 100 sculptures at his home and workshop in Pattambi. His works gradually gained attention beyond Kerala, leading to projects in Karnataka and Maharashtra.

Among them are a 16-foot Maramuthassi statue in Hampi and a 10-foot Nataraja statue in Bengaluru created to reflect environmental concerns. He also designed a 100-metre-long wall sculpture and mandapams at Infosys in Hinjewadi, Pune.

Another major milestone in his career was the 32-foot statue of Shirdi Sai Baba built above a cave temple in Hiriyur, Karnataka. The sculpture later became known as the largest Sai Baba statue in South India.

Yet, Mahesh says recognition and scale are not what matter most to him.

Referring to the John the Baptist statue in Bengaluru, he said that seeing patients and bystanders from the nearby medical college stop to pray before the sculpture gives him deep satisfaction. According to him, the response from ordinary people has been more meaningful than formal accolades.

Today, from his base in Pattambi, Mahesh continues to work on large-scale projects while staying connected to his roots.

His wife, Rilma, is a physical education teacher, and their daughter, Mizhi, studies in the second grade. Despite the growing national attention, Mahesh maintains a simple routine, balancing family life with demanding artistic projects.

Here are some of his notable works: