Page 191 - AstaGuru Modern Odyssey

Lot No. 139

K G SUBRAMANYAN
1924 - 2016

UNTITLED
50 x 40 in (127 x 101.6 cm)
Acrylic on acrylic sheet
2014
Signed & Dated : Bottom Right & Verso

` 50,00,000 - 60,00,000 | $ 60,976 - 73,171

Provenance: Property from a collection based in
New Delhi.

K G Subramanyan, a versatile Indian artist,
seamlessly embodied the roles of painter, muralist,
sculptor, printmaker, writer, scholar, and teacher,
leaving an indelible mark on the art world. Initially
pursuing economics at Presidency College, Madras,
he later immersed himself in art at Shantiniketan
under the guidance of renowned figures like
Nandanlal Bose, Benode Behari Mukherjee, and
Ramkinar Baij. His artistic journey expanded globally,
with a British Council Research Fellowship leading
him to the Slade School of Art in London in 1955 and
a Rockefeller Fellowship taking him to New York a
decade later.

Subramanyan’s distinctive artistic language
fused modern and traditional elements, drawing
inspiration from Bengali traditions, Indian tribal
art, folk symbolism, and European modernism.
His canvases resonated with a magical realism,
portraying women, children, objects, and animals in
a vibrant interplay of colours. Reflecting on his work,
Subramanyan described a fusion of the normal with
the hieratic, the worldly with the unworldly, creating
a new reality through conversations and metaphors.

Beyond his artistic endeavours, Subramanyan
significantly contributed to art history, laying the
foundation for the study of contemporary Indian
art through extensive writings. His legacy extends
to delightfully illustrated fables for children. The
revered artist, who passed away in 2016 at the age
of 92, left an enduring impact on the art world and
scholarly discourse alike.