Photo credits: K.N. Raghavendra Rao, Mohan Das Vadakara.
K.V. Haridasan (1937–2014)
Born in Cannanore, Kerala, India.
Lived and worked in Chennai, New Delhi, and Thiruvananthapuram.
K.V. Haridasan was an Indian painter and art educator who is known for his pioneering work in Indian modern painting, both in the context of Neo-Tantra as well as the Madras Movement of Art. He was one of the founder-members of the Cholamandal Artists' Village, Chennai (1965-present). His 'Yantra' solo exhibition (1968) at British Council Madras (now Chennai) is among one of the earliest Neo-Tantra painting exhibitions in India. His later series such as Nirvriti Yantra and Brahmasutra are known for their striking juxtapositions of precisely rendered, prismatic colour fields with minimal iconic forms.
Several pictorial diagram-making traditions that accompanied the dance and ritual forms of northern Kerala - such as Theyyam and Padayani - have found their way into the particular iconography of Haridasan's works. Nested within geometric grids employing delicate transparency, asymmetry and flat colours, Haridasan's paintings highlight the significant contributions of southern Indian ritual and performative traditions to the history of abstraction in painting, while simultaneously in dialogue with contemporary hard-edge abstraction, colour-field painting and Op Art. His paintings were a prominent part of the Neo-Tantra survey exhibition in UCLA in 1985, co-curated by art historian LP Sihare and painter Lee Mullican. Several of them remain in the permanent collection of National Gallery of Modern Art, New Delhi.
In addition to his art practice, Haridasan was employed as a teacher at the College of Fine Arts, Thiruvanathapuram, Kerala from 1980-1992, serving as its Principal from 1989-92. He was editor for the second iteration of Art Trends magazine published at the Cholamandal Artists' Village from 1979-85, and published his book Intimations on Art: Indian, Western, Modernity, Tradition and Tantra in 1994.
Founded Cholamandal Artists' Village with Madras Art Movement. 1965
1966, pen on paper, 8.5x11.5inch.
Yantra, series of paintings by K.V. Haridasan,
British Council, 150-A Mount Road, Madras (Chennai). 27–31 December 1968
1968, Moha Yantra, watercolor on paper, 22x14inch.
Image retrieved from catalogue.
1969, Bija Yantra, oil on canvas, 33x38inch.
1970, Nirvriti Yantra, oil on canvas, 55.0 x 60.0inch.
Delhi Art Gallery (DAG) collection, New Delhi.
Image retrieved online.
1974, pen and ink on paper, 14.5x21.5inch.
1974, Brahmasutra, acrylic on canvas, 39x39 inch.
Lalit Kala Akademi collection.
Image retrieved from catalogue.
1974, Bija Yantra, watercolor on paper, 9.8x11.2inch.
1976, Brahmasutra, oil on canvas, 40x58inch.
National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA) collection, New Delhi.
Image retrieved from catalogue.
1979, print, 9.5x9.5inch.
Editor of Art Trends,
magazine published at the Cholamandal Artists' Village.
Image retrieved from catalogue. 1979-1985
No date, bronze sculpture, 10x6x4inch.
1981, pen on paper, 5x6.7inch.
1982, Brahmasutra, acrylic on canvas, 69.6x36.3inch.
National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA) collection, New Delhi.
Image retrieved from catalogue.
1985, Brahmasutra, oil on canvas, 22x22inch.
1985, Brahmasutra, oil on canvas, 46.5x63inch.
Neo-Tantra: Contemporary Indian Painting Inspired by Tradition, Frederick S. Wight Art Gallery, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, USA. Image retrieved from catalogue. 17 December 1985-2 February 1986
1988, watercolor on paper, 13.8x19.5inch.
1991, Tapestry, 39x45 inch.
Image retrieved from catalogue.
1991, mixed media on paper, 9.4x10.9inch.
Brahmasutra Series: Exhibition of Paintings by Haridasan, Jehangir Art Gallery, 161B Mahatma Gandhi Road, Fort, Bombay (Mumbai), 400001. 26 February–3 March 1992
Image on poster: 1990, Brahmasutra, oil on canvas, 68x68inch.
Delhi Art Gallery (DAG) collection, New Delhi. Image retrieved from catalogue.
Wrote and published Intimations on Art: Indian, Western, Modernity, Tradition and Tantra. Image retrieved online. 1994
1997, pastel on paper, 8.6x11.6inch.
1997, Brahmasutra, 47x63.5inch.
No date, terracotta sculpture, 3x3x4inch.
2003, Brahmasutra, oil on canvas, 24x36inch.
In Cholamandal Artists’ Village permanent collection.
Image retrieved from catalogue.
2009, Brahmasutra, oil on canvas, 63.5x63.5inch.
2011, Brahmasutra, oil on canvas, 39x51.5inch.
Founded Cholamandal Artists' Village with Madras Art Movement. 1965
1966, pen on paper, 8.5x11.5inch.
Yantra, series of paintings by K.V. Haridasan, British Council, 150-A Mount Road, Madras (Chennai). 27–31 December 1968
1968, Moha Yantra, watercolor on paper, 22x14inches. Image retrieved from catalogue.
1969, Bija Yantra, oil on canvas, 33x38inch.
1970, Nirvriti Yantra, oil on canvas, 55.0 x 60.0 in.
Delhi Art Gallery (DAG) collection, New Delhi.
Image retrieved online.
1974, pen and ink on paper, 14.5x21.5inch.
1974, Brahmasutra, acrylic on canvas, 39x39 inch.
Lalit Kala Akademi collection.
Image retrieved from catalogue.
1974, Bija Yantra, watercolor on paper, 9.8x11.2inch.
1976, Brahmasutra, oil on canvas, 40x58inch.
National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA) collection, New Delhi.
Image retrieved from catalogue.
1979, print, 9.5x9.5inch.
Editor of Art Trends, magazine published at the Cholamandal Artists' Village.
Image retrieved from catalogue. 1979-1985
No date, bronze sculpture, 10x6x4inch.
1981, pen on paper, 5x6.7inch.
1982, Brahmasutra, acrylic on canvas, 69.6x36.3inch.
National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA) collection, New Delhi.
Image retrieved from catalogue.
1985, Brahmasutra, oil on canvas, 22x22inch.
1985, Brahmasutra, oil on canvas, 46.5x63inch.
Neo-Tantra: Contemporary Indian Painting Inspired by Tradition, Frederick S. Wight Art Gallery, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, USA. Image retrieved from catalogue. 17 December 1985-2 February 1986
1988, watercolor on paper, 13.8x19.5inch.
1991, Tapestry, 39x45 inch.
Image retrieved from catalogue.
1991, mixed media on paper, 9.4x10.9inch.
Brahmasutra Series: Exhibition of Paintings by Haridasan, Jehangir Art Gallery, 161B Mahatma Gandhi Road, Fort, Bombay (Mumbai), 400001. 26 February–3 March 1992
Image on poster: 1990, Brahmasutra, oil on canvas, 68x68inch.
Delhi Art Gallery (DAG) collection, New Delhi. Image retrieved from catalogue.
Wrote and published Intimations on Art: Indian, Western, Modernity, Tradition and Tantra. Image retrieved online. 1994
1997, pastel on paper, 8.6x11.6inch.
1997, Brahmasutra, 47x63.5inch.
No date, terracotta sculpture, 3x3x4inch.
2003, Brahmasutra, oil on canvas, 24x36inch.
In Cholamandal Artists’ Village permanent collection.
Image retrieved from catalogue.
