Anjini Prakash Laitu: The Colourman of Dubai Who Paints Joy, Resilience, and Healing Through Art

There are artists who paint, and then there are artists who live their art. Anjini Prakash Laitu, fondly known across the Emirates as the “Colourman of Dubai,” belongs to the latter. His journey is not one of sudden discovery, but of lifelong devotion — a devotion that began in his youth, was nurtured quietly alongside a successful corporate career, and then blossomed fully after his retirement when most people think of winding down. For him, art has never been a profession; it has always been a way of life, an inner calling, and a form of spiritual practice.

Although many assume his artistic journey began after sixty, the truth is that it only “regularised” then. Painting had been part of his life for decades, even during his time with Thapar’s, where he worked in paper mills and created what he fondly calls “wearable art.” He had dreamed of studying painting after his 12th exams, but in those days art was not considered a “noble profession,” and his parents steered him in another direction. He respected their wishes, but his brushes and colours were never too far away. Weekends were devoted to painting, and even during the busiest corporate years, he found solace in creating. When he retired around 2000–2001, he decided it was finally time to honor that early dream and dedicate himself fully to art.

Getting into a formal art course without prior qualifications wasn’t easy, but persistence carried him through. Eventually, he was accepted into the Sharjah Art Institute. Attending classes there, surrounded by younger peers and Iranian teachers, was a humbling yet affirming experience. “I wasn’t there to learn how to paint,” he recalls. “I knew what I had to do. But sitting with learned people gave me confidence, discipline, and inspiration.” That confidence was the missing link. Almost immediately after completing his course, he was given an opportunity to exhibit his canvases at the Arab Cultural Club. The show was covered by Sharjah Government TV, and soon after, the recognition he had longed for arrived — not just as someone who paints, but as a true painter. Exhibitions, interviews, and a growing presence in the local press and art community followed, firmly establishing him as an artist.

When asked about his unique style, Laitu humbly insists that an artist’s style is never something one sets out to create; it emerges naturally with time, practice, and patience. For him, colour is the heartbeat of creativity. His canvases are vibrant, bright, and often outlined with bold black lines that magnify the energy within. “I understand that you love bright colours more when you are happy,” he reflects. “Those colours carry positive energy, and that’s what I want to share with people. My art is meant to heal — to change your mood, to lift you, to make you feel alive again. That is the magic of colours.”

For him, the act of creation itself is spiritual. “We as mankind can do everything,” he says, “but creation is only with His blessings. You can call it meditation or spiritual practice, but I believe every painting is guided by something greater.” Over the years, this sense of divine connection has become routine. He doesn’t require special motivation or elaborate rituals; painting is as much a part of his daily rhythm as brushing his teeth or having breakfast. It flows naturally, and with every stroke, he feels he is passing on a spark of positivity to others.

The UAE has played an extraordinary role in shaping his journey. From qualifying as an artist to receiving his Golden Visa from the Ministry of Culture and becoming a member of the Emirates Fine Art Society, he feels deeply indebted to the country for the respect, opportunities, and encouragement it has offered. For more than eight years, he has had his own stall at World Art Dubai, where his works not only reached new audiences but also connected him to fellow artists from around the world. Sales were never his primary goal — though many of his paintings have found homes with corporate clients and collectors — because he does not measure success in monetary terms. “An artist is successful if he has contributed good art that will remain in history,” he explains. “If future generations remember me for my colours, then I have succeeded.”

And it seems they already do. To his many young admirers, he is the Colourman of Dubai, an affectionate title that brings him immense pride. It represents not only his work but also the energy, joy, and positivity that radiates through it. His canvases are more than visual experiences; they are emotional encounters, each infused with hope, light, and a sense of healing.

Laitu’s philosophy on art and life is deeply practical yet profound. He often advises younger artists not to rush into making art a career unless they are prepared for the challenges. “Money is important,” he says with candor. “If you want financial stability, make money from another career and keep art as your part-time passion. When you have enough, you can devote yourself full time.” He has seen many young talents confuse sales with success, and his advice is clear: if your goal is commercial, then pursue commercial art. But if your heart is set on fine art, do it for love, not money.

At eighty three, he continues to paint daily, often three to five hours at a stretch, finding in colours a rhythm that feels both eternal and fresh. Each canvas carries not just pigments but vibrations of positive energy, a silent wish for good luck and joy to reach those who encounter it. His exhibitions across the UAE and India — from Sharjah to Delhi to Chandigarh — have drawn audiences who feel not only drawn to his colours but transformed by them.

What makes his journey so compelling is not just the art itself but the resilience behind it. After a long corporate career, after years of balancing responsibilities and personal dreams, he chose to reinvent himself. He walked into an art institute as the oldest student, embraced the humility of learning, and emerged with renewed confidence to claim his identity as an artist. That decision, late in life by conventional standards, reshaped his destiny. His story is a reminder that it is never too late to honor your true calling.

Today, Anjini Prakash Laitu is not just a painter in the UAE — he is a living emblem of what it means to live with courage, gratitude, and colour. His legacy is not measured in the canvases sold or the titles earned, but in the joy he brings to those who encounter his work. He wishes to be remembered simply as the Colourman of Dubai, the artist who used bright hues and bold lines to remind people of happiness, resilience, and the healing power of art.

For those who meet him or see his work, there is no doubt that he has already achieved that. His colours speak louder than words, carrying forward his belief that art is not just for walls or galleries, but for hearts.

 

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