THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Artist Balan Nambiar will be presented with the Raja Ravi Varma Award for the year 2014, said Minister for Culture K C Joseph. Through the award, the state honours Balan Nambiar’s contributions in the field of modern art.
Hailing from Kannapuram in Kannur, Balan Nambiar has been to various international festivals like Venice Biennale. He has served as the Chairman of Lalit Kala Akademi and garnered several accolades, including the National Award from Lalit Kala Akademi. His studies on 26 ritual arts have been published as books.
The State Government has instituted the award to honour painters and sculptors who have made valuable contributions. The award includes a purse of Rs 1,50,000, memento and citation. The council of dignitaries who selected this year’s winner included Department of Culture Special Secretary Rani George, Art critic K K Marar, Jaipur University Art Department head Thomas Kovoor and artist J R Prasad. Kerala Lalithakala Akademi former chairman K A Francis is the president of the council.