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A Ramachandran
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Born in 1935 in Kerala, A. Ramachandran graduated with a degree in Malayalam Literature from Kerala University before pursuing a Diploma in Fine Arts and Crafts from Kala Bhavan, Visva Bharati University at Santiniketan. Deeply influenced by Nandalal Bose, Ramachandran made a strong case for Indian aesthetics and for the use of classical Indian images to articulate an ideological position. The painter converted to using archetypal Indian...
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Born in 1935 in Kerala, A. Ramachandran graduated with a degree in Malayalam Literature from Kerala University before pursuing a Diploma in Fine Arts and Crafts from Kala Bhavan, Visva Bharati University at Santiniketan. Deeply influenced by Nandalal Bose, Ramachandran made a strong case for Indian aesthetics and for the use of classical Indian images to articulate an ideological position. The painter converted to using archetypal Indian imagery only after years of painting in the modernist vein. Deeply influenced by the prevalent socio-political situation in Kerala, his early works represented oppression, violence, war. Human figures were dismembered, most of them headless.
Several aspects of Indian classical art have been integrated into his art, including compound motifs and imagery, decorative elements along with the exuberance of forms and colours. He admits that he has been inspired by and extensively used Kerala murals, Nathadwara paintings and Ajanta murals in his works. A decorative element much like the murals is observed in many of his paintings. However, in most of his works, the decorative element does not stand out; it is intrinsic, built into his figures’ clothes and jewellery as a part of the overall design.
Ramachandran believed that his monumental painting 'Yayati' was one of the landmarks in his growth as an artist, because it allowed him to incorporate elements of classical proportions and postures in his work. Executed as a narrative, it compelled Ramachandran to use Indian mythological imagery in a contemporary form.
Ramachandran has had several solo shows, some of which include 'Recent Works' at Grosvenor Vadehra, London, in 2008; ‘Face to Face: Art Practice of A Ramachandran’ at the Guild Art Gallery, Mumbai and New York, in 2007-08; and ‘Illustrations of Gaudi’s Ocean’ at Nami Island, South Korea, in 2005. Three retrospective exhibitions of his work have been organized by Vadehra Art Gallery in 2004; by the National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA), New Delhi, in 2003; and by Kumar Gallery at Art Heritage, New Delhi, and Jehangir Art Gallery, Mumbai, in 1983. Ramachandran has also participated in several group shows including 'Progressive to Altermodern' at Grosvenor Gallery, London, in 2009; 'From Everyday To The Imagined: Modern Indian Art' at the Singapore Art Museum, Singapore, and the Museum of Art, Seoul, in 2007-08; the ‘Festival of India’ at Coups de Coeur, Geneva, in 1987; the Sao Paulo Biennale, Brazil, in 1979; the Menton Biennale, France, in 1974; and the New Delhi Triennale, India, in 1968.
Ramachandran was awarded the Padma Bhushan by the Government of India in 2005 and the Raja Ravi Verma Puraskar by the Government of Kerala in 2003.
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Born
1935
Attingal, Kerela
Died
February 10, 2024
Education
1975 Study Tour of Japan on Japan Foundation Grant 1962 -65 Ph. D. 'Mural Painting of Kerala', Visva Bharati 1957-61 Diploma in Fine Arts and Crafts ,Kala Bhavan, Visva-Bharati University, Santiniketan 1954 -57 M.A.(Malayalam Literature), Kerala University
Exhibitions
Selected Solo Exhibitions
2016 'Earthen Pot : Image Poems...
Selected Solo Exhibitions
2016 'Earthen Pot : Image Poems 2016', Vadehra Art Gallery, New Delhi2014 Two part exhibition,
'A Retrospective: Drawings, sketches and studies 1958 - 2014 and Ekalinji Fantasy: Paintings and sculptures 2009 - 2014', presented by Vadehra Art Gallery, Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi2013 'A. Ramachandran-Selected Works from 1964 - 2013, Durbar Hall Gallery, Kochi organized by Vadehra Art Gallery, New Delhi 2009 'Bahurupi', Vadehra Art Gallery, New Delhi 2008 Presented by Vadehra Art Gallery, New Delhi at Jehangir Art Gallery, Mumbai 2008 'Recent Works', Grosvenor Vadehra, London 2007-08 ‘Face to Face’, Art Practice of A Ramachandran, The Guild Art Gallery, Mumbai and New York 2006 'The Universe in the Lotus Pond', Vadehra Art Gallery, New Delhi; Birla Academy of Art and Culture, Kolkata 2005 Vadehra Art Gallery, New Delhi 2005 Illustrations of ‘Gaudi’s Ocean’, exhibited at Nami Island, South Korea 2002 Exhibition of Watercolors, organized by Fine Arts Resource, Jehangir Art Gallery, Mumbai 2002 ‘Yayati’, Art Heritage, New Delhi 2001 ‘Imagined Territory’, paintings, drawings and sculpture, Vadehra Art Gallery, New Delhi 1998 ‘Icons of the Raw Earth, Part-I’, an Exhibition of Bronze Sculptures and Drawings at Shridharani Gallery, New Delhi; 1998 ‘Icons of the Raw Earth, Part-II’, an Exhibition of Bronze Sculptures and Drawings at Art Today, New Delhi 1998 Gallerie Ganesha, New Delhi 1997 ‘The Lotus Pond at Obeshwar’, organized by Kala Yatra, Sista’s Art Gallery, Bangalore 1996 Paintings and Watercolors, Arks Gallery, London 1994 ‘Reality in Search of Myth’, organized by Kala Yatra, Bangalore at Kolkata, Chennai, Bangalore, Mumbai and New Delhi 1991 ‘Urvashi Pururavas and the Lotus Pond’, Shridharani Gallery, New Delhi 1991 Paintings and Watercolors, Kala Yatra, Bangalore 1986 Completed the large mural of 60’ x 8’ and a group of 13 Bronze Sculptures commissioned by E Alkazi, Shridharani Gallery, New Delhi 1984 ‘Water Bodies ‘,Lalit Kala Studios’, Garhi 1981 ‘Puppet Theatre’, Dhoomimal Gallery, New Delhi 1979 21 ‘Portfolios of Etchings’, sponsored by SHAOOR, Prithvi Theatre, Mumbai 1978 ‘Retrospective’, organized by Kumar Gallery, Hansalaya, New Delhi 1977,75,70,68,67,66 Kumar Gallery, New Delhi
Retrospective Exhibitions
2004 Retrospective, organized by Vadehra Art Gallery, National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA), New Delhi 2003 National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA), New Delhi 1983 ‘Retrospective’, organized by Kumar Gallery at Art Heritage, New Delhi and Jehangir Art Gallery, Mumbai
Selected Group Exhibitions
2013 'Ideas of the Sublime', presented by Vadehra Art Gallery at Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi
2012 'Gallery Collection', Vadehra Art Gallery, New Delhi 2012 'Gallery Collection', Vadehra Art Gallery, New Delhi 2011 'The Path of the Lotus: Indian Art', Grosvenor Gallery, London 2011 'Natural Bodies, Subverted Canons', Vadehra Art Gallery, New Delhi
2010 'Freedom to March: Rediscovering Gandhi through Dandi', presented by Ojas Art at Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi 2010 '10 x 10', Gallery Threshold, New Delhi2010 'Paper Trails', Vadehra Art Gallery, New Delhi2010 'The Living Insignia', Gallery Ensign, New Delhi 2010 'Black and White', Galerie Mirchandani + Steinruecke, Mumbai 2009 'Progressive to Altermodern: 62 Years of Indian Modern Art', Grosvenor Gallery, London 2009 'Kalpana: Figurative Art in India', presented by The Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) at Aicon Gallery, London; The Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) 2008 'Modern and Contemporary Indian Art', Vadehra Art Gallery, New Delhi 2007 ‘High on Art’, Visual Art Gallery, India Habitat Centre, New Delhi 2006-07 ‘Indian Art Part II: Inventing / Inverting Traditions’, Grosvenor Vadehra, London 2006 ‘Naked Line’, Drawings by 12 Artists in New Delhi and Mumbai, organized by Delhi Art Gallery, New Delhi 2005 Spirit Set Free Golden Jubilee Exhibition, Kumar Art Gallery, New Delhi 2003 ‘Celebration of Color’, organized by Vadehra Art Gallery and The Times of India, Mumbai and New Delhi 2003 ‘Pictorial Transformations’, National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA), New Delhi 2000 ‘Celebration of Human Image’, organized by Thinking Eye, India Habitat Centre, New Delhi 2000 ‘Point Counterpoint’, Gallery Espace, New Delhi 1997 ‘Colors of Independence’, organized by Centre of International Modern Art (CIMA), National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA), New Delhi and Centre of International Modern Art (CIMA), Kolkata 1997 ‘Major Trends of Indian Art : 50th Anniversary of Indian Independence’, organized by Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi 1997 ‘Contemporary Indian Art : Rediscovering the Roots’, organized by Lalit Kala Akademi at Lima, Peru 1997 ‘Indian Contemporary Art : Post Independence’, organized by Vadehra Art Gallery, National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA), New Delhi 1996 ‘Contemporary Indian Painters’, organized by Jehangir Art Gallery, Mumbai and New Delhi 1996 ‘Chamatkara: Myth and Magic in Indian Art’, organized by Centre of International Modern Art (CIMA),Kolkata at Whitleys Art Gallery, London 1995 Inaugural Exhibition, Art Today, New Delhi 1995 ‘Indian Contemporary Painting’, Christie’s Exhibition / Auction 1994 ‘Drawing 94’, organized by Gallery Espace, All India Fine Arts and Crafts Society (AIFACS), New Delhi 1994 ‘Review 1930-1993 from NGMA Collection’, National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA), New Delhi 1993 ‘Wounds’, organized by Centre of International Modern Art (CIMA), Kolkata at Mumbai, New Delhi and Kolkata 1991 ‘Artists for Helpage’, auction organized by Helpage and Asprey’s, UK at Mumbai 1991 ‘Masters’, organized by Vadehra Art Gallery, Jehangir Art Gallery, Mumbai 1990 ‘Art Mosaic’, Mumbai, New Delhi, Kolkata 1989 ‘Nature’, organized by Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi 1989 ‘Art for Cry’, Mumbai, New Delhi, Kolkata 1989 ‘Artist Alert’, Exhibition / Auction for Sahmat 1986 ‘Contemporary Indian Painting’, Frankfurt Book Fair, Germany 1985 ‘India in Print’, Tropen Museum Amsterdam, Netherlands 1982 ‘Contemporary Indian Art’, Royal Academy of Arts, England 1982 ‘India, Myth and Reality’, Museum of Modern Art, Oxford, England 1982 ‘Modern Indian Painting’, Washington 1982 ‘Indische Kunst Heute’, Federal republic of Germany 1982 Inaugural Exhibition, Bharat Bhavan, Bhopal 1982 ‘Indian Painting Today’, Jehangir Art Gallery, Mumbai and Asian Art, Bangladesh 1977 ‘Pictorial Space’, Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi 1973 ‘Contemporary Indian Painting’, 25th Anniversary of Indian Independence, Washington, Los Angeles, Toronto 1972 ‘Art Now’, Kunika Chemould Gallery, New Delhi 1972 ‘Drawings’, Kunika Chemould Gallery, New Delhi 1970 ‘Contemporary Indian Painting’, Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo and Kyoto Municipal Museum, Japan 1970 ‘Indian Painters and Sculptures 1970’, Kunika Chemould Gallery, New Delhi 1969 ‘Contemporary Indian Painting’, Australia 1969 ‘Indian Painters 69’, Max Muller Bhavan and Birla Academy, Kolkata 1966 Kumar Gallery, New Delhi 1966 ‘Ten Indian Painters’, Massachusetts Institute of Technology and New Jersey State Museum, USA 1963 All India Fine Arts and Crafts Society (AIFACS), New Delhi
Participations
2013 'The Naked and the Nude: The Body in Indian Modern Art', Delhi Art Gallery, New Delhi 2012 'Art for Humanity', Coomaraswamy Hall, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya, Mumbai
2011 'Ethos V: Indian Art Through the Lens of History (1900 to 1980), Indigo Blue Art, Singapore2011 ‘Manifestations VI', Delhi Art Gallery, New Delhi2011 'Time Unfolded', Kiran Nadar Museum of Art (KNMA), New Delhi 2011 'Celebrations 2011', Kumar Gallery, New Delhi2010 'Art Celebrates 2010: Sports and the City', represented by Vadehra Art Gallery at Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi to coincide with the hosting of the Commonwealth Games 2010 'Roots', 25th Anniversary Exhibition of Sakshi Art Gallery, Mumbai at The Park, Chennai2010 'Celebration 2010', Annual Exhibition, Kumar Art Gallery, New Delhi 2007-08 'From Everyday To The Imagined: Modern Indian Art', Singapore Art Museum, Singapore and at Museum of Art, Seoul National University, Seoul 1992 ‘Silver Jubilee Exhibition of Birla Academy of Art and Culture’, Kolkata 1987 ‘Festival of India’, Coups de Coeur, Geneva 1986 Havana Biennale, Cuba 1980 Silver Jubilee Exhibition of Paintings in Miniature Format, Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata 1979 Silver Jubilee Exhibition of Sculptures of Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata 1979 Sao Paulo Biennale, Brazil 1978 Triennale India Restrospike, Federal Republic of Germany 1976 25th Pugwash Conference, Chennai 1975 Annual Exhibition of Society of Contemporary Art, Kolkata 1974 Menton Biennale, France 1972 ’25 Years of Indian Art’, Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi 1971 ‘Contemporary Indian Painting’, Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and Salvador in Brazil and Venezuela 1971 Triennale-II, India and National Exhibition of Art, New Delhi 1968 Triennale-I, India 1967 Tokyo Biennale, Japan 1968 Triennale-I, India
Honours and Awards
2005 Padma Bhushan, Government of India 2003 Raja Ravi Verma...
2005 Padma Bhushan, Government of India 2003 Raja Ravi Verma Puraskar, Government of Kerala 2001 Manaviyam Award, Manaviyam Cultural Mission, Government of Kerala 2000 Gagan – Abani Puraskar, Viswa Bharati University 1991 Parishad Sanman, Sahitya Kala Parishad, New Delhi 1980 Noma Award for Children’s Picture Book Illustration 1978 Noma Award for Children’s Picture Book Illustration from Japan 1973,69 National Award for Painting, New Delhi
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Study from Rajasthan
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Untitled
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