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The Hindu
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
The Photographic Society of Madras captures frames from across the world for their Chennai exhibition
At the Lalit Kala Akademi where there are photographs currently adorning the gallery walls, every corner has a story to tell. There are fishermen in Vietnam standing against a stunning sunset, a military jet belly-up in air as it streaks past the blue sky, a theyyam performer playing with fire, a grizzly bear deftly catching fish jumping out of a waterfall in Alaska, and an idyllic campsite at Tapovan, with snowy peaks in the background. These photos are currently on display as part of Confluence 2025, the Photographic Society of Madras' annual exhibition. The Society was founded in 1857 by Dr Alexander Hunter and Walter Elliot, just a few years after the very first photograph was taken. Over a century and a half later, little has changed for its current members, who are united by a common passion for photography. 'We currently have over 500 members across age groups, and meet once a month. Apart from interactions and workshops by noted photographers and cinematographers, we also organise photo tours, walks, seminars and exhibitions for our members,' says GN Ramaswami, president. As part of Confluence 2025, over 230 photographs from the Photographic Society of Madras' active members are on display across seven categories comprising monochrome, landscape, street, portrait, wildlife, monuments, and open colour. Also on display are photographs from across the world, which have won awards at the salons conducted by the Society. A member for over 10 years now, V Mohanakrishnan says being a part of the Photographic Society has meant meeting many like-minded people, and a camaraderie he greatly cherishes. 'Photography has always been a great stress buster, and as an avid biker, my trips have translated into good opportunities for wildlife and Nature photography,' he says. Photographed by him is a pair of Khalij pheasants, with their vibrant, blue plumage. 'Patience is the key to photographing wildlife and Nature,' he says, of his experiences. For S Balu, who has been interested in photography for 30 years, his interest in pictorial and Nature photography has meant planning dedicated photography trips at regular intervals. His photos on display include the electric blue Ain Dubai ferris wheel in motion by the water, and a peacock with its tail feathers unfurled and in full display. If the vibrant wildlife and Nature photographs are fascinating to see, the monochrome photographs capture a melancholic stillness. From wooden cabins covered with snow to the stunning colours of autumn, the landscape photos on display make for a capsule trip around the world. Ramaswami says they have been encouraging more youngsters to join in, and pick up photography as a hobby. 'We have also seen a marked rise in interest among them. While there are a few members who are professional photographers, a large number of us took up photography as a hobby and have bettered our craft through learning and experience sharing. This exhibition is a great platform for our members to showcase their work through various themes,' he adds. Confluence 2025 is on at Lalit Kala Akademi, Greams road, till June 7. Open from 11am to 7pm.
The Hindu
30-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
Of lines and light: Rm Palaniappan's Finite and Infinite
At Dhan Mill, Nature Morte's unveiling of Rm Palaniappan's Finite and Infinite is an odyssey of the poetry of light and lines against his sparse abstract renditions that echo an artistic practice born of a domain immersed in abstraction. Palaniappan who was former Secretary Lalit Kala Akademi was an astute administrator and is a greatly distinguished practitioner of art in Tamil Nadu. His most epic exhibition as administrator to date at LKA was the National Art Exhibition of 2011, held after 17 years in Chennai. From his newest works that use acrylic on canvas in a variety of sizes to the beauty of tangled and meandering lines that embrace multiple angles, his works wrap around our senses. There is a beauty of aerobic enchantment amidst numbers and grainy gravitas. Palaniappan once stated: ' The only true reality lies in the interaction between the physical and the psychological. I am to capture this movement in my work.' The artist's trajectory is seen in lithe contours that change colours in progression. Curator and director, Peter Nagy, says, Palaniappan's works ' suggest life's journey within aerial military cartographies that add geographical perspective.' From finite to infinite Palaniappan says: 'Only someone flying in space can make a three-dimensional drawing and stretch it to infinity, thus expressing complete human freedom.' Critic and author Sadanand Menon describes it as 'a neutral, non-anthropomorphic space carrying images of unnameable places and their visual representations, whether terrestrial or planetary or astronomical. It is a kind of experimental geography and the possibility of proposing radical landscapes.' Palaniappan's love for sciences, mathematics and astronomy find their way into a lifelong art practice that reveals his fascination with the dynamics of the flying machine. This exhibition is a textural terrain of a visual vocabulary that recurs as maps, grids, and aerial terrains in his historic evolution. Consummate medley Within a medley of notations, marks, cyphers, and signs into densely layered graphic ensembles, it is the graphic elements, hand colouring, and multiplicity that renders each work unique. Finite and Infinite is also a mapping of deeper considerations of time, space, and movement and his love for transcending the linearity of the physical world within the web of his personal experience. Transitioning from prints to drawings in the late 1980s, Palaniappan concentrated on line as his visual tool describing the trajectories as a moving object or body that travels through space and time. His works are a play of visual aesthetics in slow time. They demonstrate a subtle yet highly sophisticated use of colour and a continued interest in diagrammatic notations and graphic strategies. A constant in his work is his lifelong fascination with the emotional impact of light within lines, light not as shimmer but as an iridescent reflection, and a radiant force associated with the resilient release of boundless energy that sifts and sieves. Palaniappan's family was involved with the commercial and graphic arts, his father being a distributor of calendar art and later his brothers owned printing and packaging companies. Palaniappan's artistic practice from the late 1970s (when he was in art college) to the early 2000s was entirely dedicated to printmaking, collages, and graphic works on paper. This history is retained in the paintings today, as the borders of each are demarcated with contrasting colours, numbers hover in the margins, and the target devices used for registration are still present. You recall the great Mark Rothko who said: ' Silence is so accurate.' (At Dhan Mill, Chattarpur ; Till June 8; 10am to 9pm) The writer is an art curator and critic
The Hindu
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
Exhibition at Lalit Kala Akademi to showcase works of two retired art teachers
From May 28, Lalit Kala Akademi features an art exhibition titled 'Together in love and in art', showcasing the works of artist couple A. Anjaneyulu and A.B. Geetha Anjaneyulu. Art teachers ( Anjaneyulu retired from Vidya Mandir Senior Secondary School in Mylapore, and Geetha from Vidyodaya Higher Secondary School in Nungambakkam), they inspired students to produce works of art beyond the regular school work. The event is a son's tribute to the body of work left behind by his parents. Both passed away in their early 60s. 'Mom was one year junior to dad at Government College of Fine Arts in Egmore where they first met and discovered a shared love for teaching art,' recalls A. Venkatakrishna, also an alumnus of the college. Both came from humble backgrounds to make a career in art in the late 50s. Anjaneyulu left his village with ₹100 to pursue a course at the College of Fine Arts. He shared an accommodation by paying ₹10 a month and also supported himself by working part-time as an artist for local magazines. 'Dad was a workaholic, he used to visit homes to conduct art classes after his school hours and pursue his creative interests. He was an active member of the Cholamandal Artists Village,' says Venkatakrishna, who is into digital film restoration. Geetha was influenced by her father, who served as the chief editor of Municipal Gazette to pursue art. 'There were only three female students in my mom's batch then,' he says adding that Geetha specialised in Tanjore paintings. Close to 40 artworks will be on display at the venue, all showcasing different aspects of art and nuggets of information from the artist couple's life. Anjaneyulu specialised in Batik, a traditional dyeing technique that uses wax-resist patterns on fabric. 'So elaborate and time-consuming is this process, one carried out with heated wax brush, that my parents would book a night show at Pilot Theatre and return to complete one more stage,' says Venkatakrishna. Meena Muthiah, the Kumara Rani of Chettinad, used to conduct workshops that Anjaneyulu would be a part of. 'At one event, dad drew an instant sketch of M.F. Hussain who was also present at the event, which will also be showcased,' he says. With contemporaries such as Aadhimoolam, Selvaraj and other senior artists, Anjaneyulu has been part of group exhibitions across India. 'This is their first solo exhibition, and many students have different memories of them which I want them to relive by looking at their works,' says Venkatakrishna. He says all artists love their works to be displayed at Lalit Kala Akademi and this is a fitting tribute to them. The event will be inaugurated on May 28 at 5.30 p.m. by artist and actor Sivakumar, who was Geetha's batchmate, and Trotsky Marudu, art director and VFX creative director. The exhibition will be on view from May 29 to June 3 (11 a.m. to 7 p.m.) at Lalit Kala Akademi on Greams Road.
Business Standard
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Business Standard
Cognishift.org Excellence Awards- The God of Deserted Memories Book & Art Exhibition, Lalit Kala Akademi, Ministry of Culture, India, Chennai 2025
VMPL Chennai (Tamil Nadu) [India], May 21: held the Indo-Armenian-French Art & Literary Confluence, "The God of Deserted Memories," 11-17 May 2025 at the Lalit Kala Akademi, Chennai. Curated by Dr Prashant Madanmohan (Dr Leander) and Armenian impressionist artist Mari Poghosyan, this landmark festival united the legacies of India, Armenia and France through 42 original paintings based on the book - Dr Prashant Madanmohan's 500-page philosophical novel, The God of Deserted Memories, which soared to #2 on Amazon India's Literary Criticism bestseller list. Drawing over 500 visitors--institutional delegations, diplomats and members of the media--the week-long Confluence explored how art and literature serve as vigilant guardians of collective memory under the guiding principle of "Yaadhum Oore Yaavarum Kelir" ("All the world is my family, every one a kin"). Festival Highlights A distinguished cross-disciplinary dais--Kalaimamani Trotsky Marudu; Sahitya Akademi awardee art critic Indran Rajendran; former TN DGP S.K. Dogra; Addl. DCGI (Rtd.) Dr C.S. Deva Prasad; UN correspondent Dr Prakash M. Swamy; screenwriter-director Thiru Brindha Sarathy; Lalit Kala Akademi Secretary Sovan Kumar; Dr M. Pattazhagan, Tamil poet-writer Manohari Madan; Auditor G. Madanmohan; Educator Shruthilaya --under the patronage of French Veena Maestro Manet -followed by panel discussions, keynote speeches, artist walkthroughs, debates, musical performances, book readings ,poetry recitals. Reminiscier Fellowships were conferred on Dr Prashant Madanmohan and Mari Poghosyan by the Cognishift cultural council. French Deputy Consul-General Christophe Bramoulle hailed the festival as "art capturing the essence of three cultures," while Dr Ani Yeremyan of the Armenian Embassy lauded for "a remarkable initiative uniting our nations." Launch of the Cognishift Excellence Awards Cognishift Excellence Awards Initiative was inaugurated with its Annual Monalisa D'Amour Awards to honor exceptional women writers, poets and artists. Tamil poet-author Mrs Manohari Madan, received the Monalisa D'Amour Award 2025 for her romantic verses, translated into French, English and Armenian published by The book was first unveiled in the presence of French Deputy Consul-General. Nominations for all category awards are now open at Voices from The God of Deserted Memories * Kalaimamani Trotsky Marudu: "Art and words have connected three nations in the spirit of Yaadhum Oore Yaavarum Kelir. The book made me emotional--the paintings and the words reminded me of memories I had forgotten. The book also brings out the contributions of Armenians to Chennai." * Thiru Indran Rajendran: "Mari's lotus-pond paintings recall Claude Monet--her portrait of Raghunath Manet is both lifelike and innovative. This book and these paintings unite global cultures toward world peace. Mari's 'Thiruvalluvar on the Kaveri banks' is timeless, speaking through silence." * Shri S.K. Dogra: "Had I not known Dr Prashant is an orthopaedician, I'd have thought him a professor of literature or philosophy--he spoke with such depth and mastery. Through his book, Dr Leander resurrects silent memories and reminds us of what we have lost." * Mari Poghosyan: "Art is the only language I trust to tell the truth about memory. Monuments belong to all of us--echoes of a shared humanity." * Dr Prashant Madanmohan: "We must remember our roots so we can embrace diversity and evolve together. The world is a synergy of cultures; what we remember shapes us, what we forget haunts us." * Dr Prakash M. Swamy: "A stirring meditation on memory, this book urges us to remember--and its polished prose truly deserves a Pulitzer." * Thiru Brindha Sarathy: "Dr Prashant has written inspirational books on many figures; Mari's stunning monuments--especially her Indian depictions--show how art can unite us all." * Mrs Manohari Madan: "The God of Deserted Memories reminds us that neglecting people, love or duty leaves us hollow--its texts and paintings urge us to reclaim what we've forsaken." * Ms Shruthilaya M.: "This book treats memories as living forces, honoring multiple truths across cultures; Dr Leander's soulful journeys and Mari's vivid portraits invite us to rediscover ourselves." About the Curators * Dr Prashant Madanmohan - Orthopaedic surgeon, philosopher-author and founder of exploring intersections of medicine, memory, art and intellect. His novel The God of Deserted Memories offers a sweeping philosophical odyssey through three civilizations. * Mari Poghosyan - Armenian impressionist whose vivid canvases transform cultural grief into color. Exhibited in Yerevan and Chennai, she champions art as a universal language of healing and remembrance. About is a Chennai-based platform uniting art, literature, memory, philosophy and personal and professional growth through original publications, a curated bookshop, transformative learning courses and seminars, its flagship magazine Cognishift Insider, a virtual Armenian museum and an immersive art studio. By curating events, publishing original works and recognizing creative excellence via the Cognishift Excellence Awards, amplifies diverse voices and contributes to thought leadership. For more information, visit
The Hindu
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
The universe as home
When you look at Gulam Mohammed Sheikh's Speaking Tree with figures amongst the leaves and the two weeping Mother Mary figures , a retrospective of his works held at Lalit Kala Akademi in Delhi in 2011 come rushing back. The current show, Of Worlds Within Worlds, A Retrospective, curated by Robin Karode, is like a labyrinth of art history woven through the magic of realism, through doors of a master's love for time past brought forward to time present. 'The narrative for me was a personal web of destinies and journeys, where I wanted to spread out a continuous thread of times and places; I wanted to gather a world found in momentary glimpses but embedded in deeper recesses. I always thirsted for an investigation of more than a thousand sensory instincts homing around personal experience. In confronting the totally personal and the entire, I found the consonance of many worlds,' he says. One of his most seminal works in this brilliantly designed show is the melding of two universal paragons of virtue and sanctity — St Francis of Assisi and Sant Kabir Das. 'Every time I am lost, either it is Kabir or Gandhi or Saint Francis. They did something with their lives that keeps them relevant even today. In that sense, coalescing at different times is part of my makeup. It is not I who discovered this. All of us realize that we constantly move from one time into another. That is why our way of looking at the world, our way of looking at life is somewhat different from a place where there is little history,' says Gulam Mohammed. Art is perhaps the only territory that has kept hope alive as it isabout moving forward. Creativity never dies. Creativity looks forward, produces the future of hope. 'I keep creativity alive by recalling the best from life or reflecting upon inspiring icons from the past who keep humanity alive. We know they were surrounded by violence – Rumi was surrounded by violence, Kabir and St Francis, too. They are harbingers of hope, they kept the human voice alive,' says the artist. Another epic work is his Ark. Set adrift on turbulent waters, with waves threatening to sink it at any moment, the ark speaks 'of the covenant of wisdom and the refuge in the world that both seem utterly unattainable'. The form of the ark draws upon 18th-century master miniaturist Nainsukh's A Boat Adrift on a River: Illustration to a Folk Legend (c. 1765 - 1775). On one end of the boat sits poet and Sufi mystic Kabir. Also in the series Kahat Kabir, which Sheikh started in 1996, he invites the human gaze into integral aspects of Indian tradition. Kabir is a compassionate kindred voice that speaks as part of a vital tradition in Indian philosophy and poetry. The Ark is filled with characters that induce a flashback of history and iconographic images referencing Indian, Western, and Oriental traditions, including the goddess Kali, a group of Eastern mystics, a temple, and Srinagar's Hazratbal shrine. Collectively, the elements alludeto Sheikh's sustained interest in cross-cultural syncretism in Indian culture. Frida Kahlo is present, flanked by Pablo Picasso and Diego Rivera. Below them, Bhupen Khakhar lingered, gun in hand. Huddled together in the prow of the ship, Caravaggio, Vincent Van Gogh and FN Souza, Amrita Sher-Gil's painting at NGMA, all these paintings become a part of Gulam Mohammed's Kaarawaan, a gigantic work painted over five years, from 2019 to 2023. Kaarawaan is a Noah's Ark rippling with literary as well as poetic references and scenes from mythology—visiting vast tracts of space and time. Secular symbolism and values echo the beauty of humanity. At Kiran Nadar Museum of Art, Saket; Till June 20; 10.30 a.m. to 6.30 p.m. The writer is an art curator and critic.
