R. B. BHASKARAN

R. B. Bhaskaran, born in Madras, is a celebrated Indian artist known for his dynamic and eclectic body of work that defies traditional artistic boundaries. Growing up in a family of artists, Bhaskaran’s earliest artistic influence came from his maternal uncle, Namashivayam Pillai, a film banner painter, with whom he learned to paint as a child. He later pursued formal studies in painting at the Government College of Art and Craft in Madras, before further honing his skills in printmaking in Israel and fresco painting at Banasthali Vidyapeeth in Rajasthan.

Bhaskaran's work is best known for his distinct series on cats and couples, which have become iconic in Indian contemporary art. His feline series, inspired by a cat that wandered into his studio years ago, captures the mysterious and playful nature of the animal, much like horses did for artists such as M. F. Husain and Sunil Das. The "Couple" series, on the other hand, draws from the traditional wedding portraits found in Indian households, transforming them into profound reflections on the traditional dynamics of man-woman relationships, and infusing them with deeper cultural meanings. In addition to these, Bhaskaran's paintings have been inspired by the music of renowned composer Ilayaraja, particularly his Tamil cinema compositions, which the artist translates into visual poetry.

An outspoken rebel in both his art and life, Bhaskaran is known for rejecting the notion of an "Indian" style of painting, a concept championed by K.C.S. Panniker. He believes that art should not be constrained by national or cultural identities, and his works reflect this free-spirited approach. At ease with both the classical works of Diego Velázquez and the modernist experiments of Pablo Picasso and Paul Cézanne, Bhaskaran combines these influences with his own experiences, including his fresco training, creating a unique visual language that blends tradition and modernity effortlessly. His paintings are characterized by an unusual dynamism, often combining tribal-like motifs with vibrant, fragmented forms, creating a space where disparate elements coexist harmoniously.

Throughout his career, Bhaskaran has been a prominent figure in the Indian art scene. He was part of the Madras Art Movement in the 1960s, which challenged prevailing artistic norms, and he has exhibited widely both in India and internationally. His work has been showcased in over twenty-eight solo exhibitions across cities like Chennai, Mumbai, Bangalore, and Delhi, as well as in the United Kingdom, Holland, Israel, and the Fiji Islands. In addition to his artistic practice, Bhaskaran has contributed significantly to the academic world, serving as the principal of the Government College of Art in Chennai and the College of Art in Kumbakonam. He was also the chairman of the Lalit Kala Akademi in 2002. Known for his commitment to free expression, Bhaskaran continues to inspire both art students and fellow artists, encouraging them to embrace their own creative paths while rejecting the need to explain or justify their work.