Seventy year-old artist Thota Vaikuntam finds the spirit of ordinary country folk endearing. In his latest work, Telangana Panels, the central characters are the men and women from Andhra Pradesh, his birthplace. Telangana women, in particular, are frequent subjects for his works. He aims to capture the vibrancy of the women of his village, who are very sensuous. But while the feminine beauty is a big inspiration, it is the nature of the people of his land that motivates him, he says. “They are not just rustic; they are simple, innocent and rooted to their traditions. At the same time, they are determined and resilient,” says Vaikuntam.