Ramachandran unveiled: 100 selected works will be displayed
■ 100 selected works of the artist will be displayed as part of a retrospective Organised by the Vadehra Art Gallery, the retrospective will feature works of the Delhi- based artist executed between 1964 and 2013; it is also the first time that a show
Even though many people have wanted me to show in Kerala, this time it was Vadehra’s suggestion, so I thought before I die I should have an exhibition there — A. RAMACHANDRAN 78- year- old
artist
Amini- retrospective of Delhi- based artist A. Ramachandran, featuring works done over the past 50 years, is set to open for the first time in his hometown Kerala next month. The retrospective representing a total of 100 selected works — watercolours, paintings, sketches, etchings and sculptures — executed between 1964 and 2013 is slated to be displayed at the newly renovated Durbar Hall Gallery in Kochi.
Organised by the Vadehra Art Gallery from August 11 to 25, the event marks a prelude to the artist’s exhibition of drawings, watercolours and sculptures lined up for opening here in 2014.
“The show in Kochi includes a few of my earliest set of watercolours done in 1992 to the latest works in 2010. Some of my earlier works that remained unsold are still with me, so all that will also be included in the retrospective,” said Ramachandran.
Noted art historian R. Siva Kumar, who has curated the show, has written in an accompanying catalogue, a foreword essay explaining the crucial changes in the visual language of the artist over the years.
“Siva Kumar, who is very familiar with my work, has completely curated the entire show. My only contribution was to suggest that he reverse the order of showing and begin with my latest works first and leave my earlier daravani ( frightening) works for later viewing,” says the 78- year- old artist.
In his initial artistic career, Ramachandran painted grotesque images filled with urban angst and grim headless human images bodies to re- enact themes of exploitation, oppression, war, human brutality, and political violence.
However, in his later works, the artist who was conferred with a Padma Bhushan, was inspired from mythology, rural landscapes and tribal art — particularly from villages of Rajasthan — and murals, especially those from Kerala. Ramachandran has in his lifetime executed works like the Yayati, a 1986 monumental 60- feet installation comprising painting and bronze sculptures. His rock sculpture at Sriperumbathoor, where former India Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated, is possibly the largest commission of public art in modern India.
Even though the artist has been showcased in various cities in India and held exhibitions in London, New York, Singapore, Korea etc., he has so far never shown in his native Kerala.
In the year 2004, the National Gallery of Modern Art ( NGMA) conducted a mammoth retrospective of Ramachandran.
“That exhibition was supposed to go to Thiruvananthapuram. The Centre had sanctioned money for it to travel, but unfortunately, the venue at Kanakakkunnu Palace was undergoing repair and by the time it was ready, the financial year had lapsed and we had to cancel the show... So after that, I never got a chance to exhibit in Kerala,” recalls the artist.
The artist says the upcoming retrospective has been suggested by Arun Vadehra, owner of Vadehra Gallery, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary.
“Even though many people have wanted me to show in Kerala, this time it was Vadehra’s suggestion, so I thought before I die I should have an exhibition there,” says the artist.
Born in Kerala, Ramachandran has a masters in Malayalam literature, which he followed by a diploma in Fine Arts art and later a doctorate in Kerala mural painting from Santiniketan under masters like Ramkinkar Baij and Benodebehari Mukherjee.
After joining Delhi’s Jamia Millia University as a lecturer in art education in 1965, Ramachandran continued to work there for the next twenty- eight years as a Professor and Head developing the department, before taking voluntary retirement in 1992.
The Kochi exhibition will feature Ramachandran’s select paintings ( totalling 48), watercolour works ( 38) and etchings ( 10) besides four sculptures ( including one group sculpture).