After obtaining his Master's degree in Malayalam literature in 1957 A.Ramachandran could have taken the easier way out –opting for a sound career in civil service. However art had remained a continuing interest since childhood, therefore he decided to join Kala Bhavan, Santiniketan and formally study art. He chose mural paintings of Kerala as the subject for his doctorate.
After completing his doctorate Ramachandran shifted to Delhi and in 1965 where he was offered a post of art Lecturer in the Jamia Milia Islamia University. Subsequently he was promoted to the post of a professor in the same department. His long-standing association with the university came to an end in 1992 when he took voluntary retirement. In 1991,he added another feather to his cap when he was appointed the honorary chairman of the Kerala Lalit Kala Akademi.
Ramachandran’s Early Paintings
Ramachandran early paintings are distinctly expressionistic. His disillusionment with urban life was poignantly reflected in his angst-ridden paintings. The characteristic feature of most of his early works was their size-they were large, akin to murals. They were also powerfully figurative.
Ramachandran’s Later Paintings
However, by the late eighties Ramachandran's there was a paradigm shift of sorts in Ramachandran’s politics. He was drawn to the ethos of tribal community and urban reality was no longer the subject of his artistic attention. The vibrant Rajasthani tribes particularly enamored him. The murals in of his home state Kerala, were also echoed in his later paintings. He decided that he should go back to his roots to find a new language of art- his Santiniketan training taught him that the decorative elements were as integral to the painting as the figures in the foreground. He decided to implement that very style. He also drew from myths and legends.
Ramachandran’s strong and confident lines, and his complete understanding of colors and forms makes his paintings exciting visual drama. His witty sense of humor and irony is often reflected in his piquant paintings
He was recently honoured by the nation with the award Padma Bhushan. Ramachandran lives and works in New Delhi
|
