K. G. Subramanyan
If you went to see an artist and came back meeting a writer, a scholar, a teacher, an artisan and an art historian, then, without doubt, you have met K.G. Subramanyan. He is one of those distinctive artists who can lay claim to being the Jack of all things or should we say, the Subramanyan of all things and unapologetically, the master of them all too. He weaves and makes toys with the same dexterity as he paints. And when he paints, it breaks the mould of modern art itself.
K.G. Subramanyan is among the few artists who have explored the possibilities of modern art from a different perspective. His human figures are derived from mythology and folklore in spirit but when they stroll onto his canvas, they move over from their time to live in ours and find a comfortable seat in the modern. He is at ease the diverse media, techniques and genre.
Sometimes full of colour, sometimes given life through the use of mere lines, his works make us think again about what actually defines modern art. To be surrounded by Subramanyan’s works is to take art education to the next level. It is in those moments you will find yourself in the hands of the scholar, the teacher and the artisan all at once. Being with his works is a study of modern art from a perspective one never considers possible. Even in his writings, the exploration of art as a language or means of communication is a recurring theme. The artist is a Keralite but works and lives in Baroda, India.
To see artworks by K. G. Subramanyan, click here
EDUCATION
1955-56 British Council Research to Slade School of Art, University of London
1944-48 Kala Bhavan, Visva Bharati University, Santiniketan
1942-43 B.A.(Hons.) in Economics., Presidency College, Chennai
SELECTED SOLO SHOWS
2015 'War of the Relics', Red Earth Art Gallery, Vadodara
2014 'New Works by K. G. Subramanyan', Red Earth Gallery, Vadodara
2010 Presented by Art Heritage at Triveni Kala Sangam, New Delhi
2007 'The Painted Platters', The Guild Art Gallery, Mumbai
2006 Faculty of Fine Arts, Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, Gujarat
2004 The Guild Art Gallery, Mumbai
2003 'K.G. Subramanyan: Recent Paintings', Art Heritage, New Delhi
2001 Art Heritage, New Delhi
2000 'K.G. Subramanyan', Vadehra Art Gallery, New Delhi
1999 The Seagull Arts and Media Resource Centre, Kolkata
1998 'K.G. Subramanyan: Paintings and Drawings', Sakshi Gallery, Mumbai
1997 Nazar Gallery, Vadodara, Gujarat
1996 Art Heritage, New Delhi
1994 'Exhibition of Paintings by K.G. Subramanyan', Sakshi Gallery, Mumbai
1992 Art Heritage, New Delhi
1989 Cymroza Art Gallery, Mumbai
1988 'Exhibition of Acrylic Sheet Paintings', Museum of Modern Art, Oxford
1986 Centre for Contemporary Art Gallery, New Delhi
1985 Art Heritage, New Delhi
1981 'Retrospective', Bharat Bhavan, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh
1971 'Exhibition of Politics', Kunika – Chemould, New Delhi
1969 Gallery Chemould, Mumbai
1961 Jehangir Art Gallery, Mumbai
1958 Delhi Silpi Chakra, New Delhi
1956 Jehangir Art Gallery, Mumbai
1955 Delhi Silpi Chakra, Freemason's Hall, New Delhi
SELECTED GROUP SHOWS
2013 'Ideas of the Sublime', at Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi
2013 'Edge of Reason- and beyond, at Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi
2012 'Diva', Sakshi Gallery, Mumbai
2011 'Of Humour, Wit & Satire', Gallery Threshold, New Delhi
2010 'The Living Insignia', Gallery Ensign, New Delhi
HONOURS AND AWARDS
2012 Padma Vibhushan by the Government of India
2006 Padma Bhushan, Government of India
2005 Lifetime Achievement Award, Academy of Fine Arts, Kolkata
To see artworks by K.G Subramanyan, click here.
