(15 February, 1924 – 29 June, 2016)
K. G. Subramanyan belonged to a Tamil Brahmin family and was born in Kuthuparamba, Kerala, in 1924. He was a renowned Indian artist and also writer, scholar, teacher and art historian. He studied under the guidance of Benode Behari Mukherjee, Nandalal Bose and Ramkinkar Baij at Santiniketan. He graduated from Kala Bhavan, Visva Bharati University, before that, he earned a Bachelor's Degree in Economics from Presidency College in Chennai.In addition, from 1961 to 1980, he studied at the Slade School of Fine Art, London and was a John D. Rockefeller III Fund fellow in the U.S. during that time. He also taught at Santiniketan from 1980-1989.
Subramanyan used many different materials and styles in his work. He wanted to bring back Indian traditions and created a unique artistic style. His work included drawing, oil painting, acrylics, watercolour, murals, sculpture, toy making, set design, glass painting, pottery, and weaving. He painted women, children, objects, and animals. In the 1960s, he focused exclusively on still-life, then shifted to the “Terrace” series in the 1970s. Hispaintings, known for their sensual imagery, figures, nightly backdrops, and reflective faces, revealed a strong Cubist influence. His colour palette was sober and bright along with stiff and sharp lines. A contemporary of the Progressives, he created a unique type of modern Indian art. He used myths, fables, and traditional stories in different mediums, from small-sized terracotta works to larger-than-life murals.
Throughout his career, his work has been shown in more than fifty solo exhibitions. This includes a major 2015-2016 exhibition organized by the Seagull Foundationfor the Arts in Kolkata, along with the Jehangir Art Gallery in Mumbai and the Harrington Street Arts Centre in Kolkata, and he was achieved various awards like Padma Bhushan by Government of India in 2006 and more.
K. G. Subramanyan passed away in Vadodara, Gujrat on 29 June, 2016.
