It was in the mid-60’s, that many artists came out with figurative illustrations using many colours. However, there was an odd man out — one who drew line drawings using only black and white paint. He was none other than artist K M Adimoolam.
His era of painting is regarded as the beginning of modern art in India, according to several art historians. To honour the legend, a memorial lecture is to be organised for the first time here on January 20, in commemoration of his fifth death anniversary on January 15.
“One can put it that modern art in India had its beginning in Chennai. The School of Arts and Crafts, later rechristened as College of Fine Arts, was started in Chennai. It was India’s first institute to teach arts. The great sculptor Roy Chowdhury, who sculpted the Mahatma Gandhi statue and the Labour Statue on the Marina Beach, was the first Indian principal of the college, saA S Panneerselvan, a journalist who was closely associated with Adimoolam.
“While Roy Chowdhury was the principal, artists K C S Panikkar and sculptor Dhanapal were his students. Dhanapal became a distinguished sculptor. Adimoolam studied under him,” he said.
He added that Tamil litterateurs of those times started a small literary magazine Kasadathapara, which became a major landmark in the Tamil literary milieu. Adimoolam designed its mast head. He also did illustrations for the magazine.”
He further said that Adimoolam designed the cover paintings for three books Thakkaiyin Meedhu Nangu Kangal, Andru Veru Kizhamai and Varum Pogum which were written by Sa Kandhasamy, Gnanakoothan and T Mani respectively.
“Those were the first books that had wrappers of modern paintings which entirely differed from the calendar art form wrappers of those times. He then continued to make illustrations for series like Naangavathu Puthaka Kankaatchiyil Kidaitha Kathaigal and Goballapurathu Makkal written by Ki Rajanarayanan that appeared in magazines like Kungumam and Ananda Vikatan, respectively.
Sa Kandhasamy, well known writer and Sahitya Akademi Awardee, whose debut short story collections’ cover was designed by Adimoolam, said Adimoolam was the first person who brought the ancient inscription to letter form.
He was not just an illustrator, but also an independent creative artist. Most of his non-titled lines were non-figurative. Speaking to City Express, Adimoolam’s son Aparajithan said, “The lecture on January 20 will focus on one side of Adimoolam’s contribution – illustrations for literary works and popular magazines.
The lecture will be held at Spaces, Besant Nagar, at 6 pm. on January 20 2013.