Devi Seetharam
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isDevi an Indian artist, Seetharam based in Melbourne, Australia. She completed her Bachelors in Fine Arts- Painting from LASALLE College of the Arts, Singapore in 2011. Before moving to Australia in 2016, Devi grew up living in China, Cambodia, South Africa, India, Switzerland, Thailand, Taiwan, Singapore, Mauritius and the United Arab Emirates. “In my language (Malayalam) the term “vayoo The opportunity of living in several different noki” translates to staring with your mouth countries has moulded her outlook and therefor hanging open, men standing around in public informs her work. Devi primarily works with oil or spaces gawking at women who pass by. Men acrylic paints on canvas using figurative visuals to stand around in open spaces, wrapped in their portray social issues in the settings she inhabits. traditional white loin clothes (a symbol of their purity), their self-granted sense of status and Her themes have traversed from the need for morality. I’ve depicted their dark Dravidian skin recuperation from our fast paced, emotionally (tackling their valued beauty standard) and the and physically exhausting daily lives, bombarded ground littered with different culturally tied details and reinforced by social constructs and looney such as jasmine flowers (that women adorn in their preconceptions (series: Sleep My Haven). To the hair) and ‘bidis’ that only men smoke, expressing dignity and pride in marginalized communities the passing of time as their presence weighs on. (series: Anonymity) as well as her current body These men wield the authority to occupy a space of work which is tackling the deep-rooted issues and assume entitlement over women. Women are within society, specifically patriarchy within her scarce in public spaces, and weighed down by home community in India (Series: Brothers, the demeaning eye of the men. The work is my Fathers and Uncles). process of confronting the social dynamics of my home community”. Karunakaran’s illustrations have appeared in Manorama Weekly, Kalakaumudi, Kerala Kaumudi Weekly, Malayalanadu, Chintha, Deshabhimani Weekly, Kumkumam, Mathrubhumi Weekly, Bhashaposhini and India Today. They also appear in Lore and Legends of Kerala, selection from the Aithihyamala published by OUP. C.was the N. Chairman Karunakaran of the Kerala Lalitakala Academy. He was born in 1940 at Brahmakulam in Thrissur District of Kerala. Karunakaran received degrees in design and painting from the Government School of Arts and Crafts, Madras while studying under the tutelage of the renowned artists D.P. Roy Choudhari and K. C. S. Paniker. He died in Kochi on 14 December 2013 following a period of brief illness. After completing his studies, Karunakaran worked as art director and made ad films in Chennai. He returned to Kerala in 1970, to take charge of Kalapeetom (Kerala Institute of Arts) in Kochi. Karunakaran founded “Chitrakoodam”, The recently published book “Mythic which was the first private art gallery in Kerala Imagination” Art of CN Karunakaran’ is a (1973 to 1977). He has worked as art director testimony to the singularity of his art spanning for Malayalam movies such as Aswathamavu, an unrivalled six decades. Ore Thooval Pakshikal, Akkare, Purushartham and Alicinte Anveshanam. Some of my doors open into an interior with tulsi tharas in the inner courtyards with milk cans, kerosene lamps, wooden boxes, clothes drying …faint white numbers and letters on K.R.Santhanakrishnan the doors are clues about the inhabitants of I am Chennai based artist from India. those residences. The corporation numbers, I graduated from College of Fine Arts, ward numbers, electricity board connection Kumbakonam and have a post-graduate numbers… For instance, P 26 indicates that degree from College of Fine Arts, Chennai. polio drops were given to a child in the house My work revolves around the entrance of a under the immunization programme of the home--”the Doors”. For the past 18 years I government. have been painting on this theme. The concept “doors” was for me to give the next generation what is disappearing from today’s world as well as to bring back memories for many. In this fast-moving world, I want them to stop for a moment to recollect their past. I know and believe that a door speaks volumes. It can either be wide open inviting you in with warmth and happiness or it can be closed and hide a million secrets. A door says words that man cannot say. are in a way a depiction of his daughter who he lost to cancer. It is as though time stands G. Over Subramanianthe years Subra (as he is warmly still in his artworks amongst the myriad of called) has expressed his thoughts and changes happening in the physical world, thus feelings in his artworks in an almost childlike creating a paradox which is deep, mystical and fashion which compliments the subject of his innocent. His daughter, Surya meaning sun creations. shines on through his art! Archetypal of his works, Subra brings a new series titled “Synonyms of Innocence” where exploration of the form and interaction with the viewer takes center stage. His works are a beautiful amalgamation of subject and technique. He quite expertly uses the medium of collage and line drawing fused with acrylic paints to create artworks that depicts innocence. The forms in his artworks seem to look away almost shyly. A lot of his artworks are of young girls which opines that his way of conceptualizing, as a mathematician, has contributed a lot to his artistic research. He values the linear quality in his oeuvre, and the development of a concept and the motif. Each theme evolves in such a way that the presentation is distinguished from period to period or at the same time. Besides human figure, the artist has been studying for the past few years, the bovine, most familiar animals of the Indians. A.V. Ilango made his debut in 1973 on completing his Masters in Mathematics at the Bangalore University. From seven to sixteen years, he had spent his childhood in Gobichettipalayam, a market town in the hinterland of Tamil Nadu roofs line the narrow streets. Everyday life is orchestrated with agricultural activities, trade and also religious celebrations. Thus the harvest, fairs and festivals resound with folk songs, music and dances. People sing and dance, and patiently queue before the shrines. All their movements are tuned to the drumbeat and tinkling ankle bells. Clad in ochre dhotis, musicians and dancers enliven the crowd “I am fascinated by the form on the space. with leaps and swirls in ecstasy. The bright I go with them on a voyage of discovery costumes, pulsating music, bellowing traders, to understand their complexity and simplicity. echoing loud speakers… The artist vividly Finally, I see things existing recalls those scenes on his canvas. in the purest of forms. Space and form are interwoven, Some works have caught the dramatic merged into one another, moment of an action. Whereas in others, until the original form becomes forms merge into the space. The artist intangible, imperceptible, sublime…” V.is a post Satheesangraduate in sculpture from Delhi University in 1997. Conducted 11 Solo Shows in Trivandrum, Cochin, Kollam, Calicut, Madurai. Kottayam, Chennai and New Delhi. Received several awards including Al India award for best sculpture from Rajasthan L K Academy. Raja Ravi Varma Award 2018. State Award 2012, AIFACS Award 2000. Participated in more than 100 group shows all over India including 37th National Exhibition of Art, at Chennai. Attended 12 National camps including National Sculpture Camp in Black Marble, Garhi Centre , New Delhi. His works are part of collections in India and abroad..