KOCHI: Education should not be related to something in the past or that has gone by but must be based on situations that are yet to come, probably in the next ten years, renowned artist Padma Vibhushan K G Subramanyan said during an interactive programme ‘An Evening with KGS’ organised by the Kochi Biennale Foundation (KBF) at the Kerala Folklore Museum, Thevara.
India’s art institutions and centres are yet to catch up with the changes brought about by new technologies, he said during a conversation with Kochi-Muziris Biennale 2014 curator Jitish Kallat and renowned visual artist Suresh Jayaram. Artists must make use of the wide range of possibilities offered by visual communication, he said.
In a career spanning six decades, the artist has won many recognitions and awards including the Padma Vibhushan in 2012, Padma Bhushan in 2006 and Padma Shri in 1975.
K G Subramanyan, fondly called Mani Da, had been a lecturer at the Faculty of Fine Arts in MS University in Baroda till 1980. Later, he joined his alma mater Kala Bhavan, Visva Bharati University as a professor in painting.
He exhorted art lovers not to gauge an artist by his achievements. KGS also pointed out that some of the works that he at one time did not approve of, have later become acceptable to the people.
Referring to the art scenario in India, he said India’s art culture, for example the murals and Mughal paintings, are very unique in many aspects.
“I personally think, Indian artists can do very well, provided they think less about the world outside and more about the world around us,” KGS added.
An active participant of Indian freedom struggle, KGS also shared his experience of art practice at that time which was mainly focused on nation building.
As an artist, K G Subramanyan is extraordinarily versatile and is known for blurring the boundaries between an artist and an artisan. His works encompass paintings, murals, toys, pottery, illustration and design and terracotta sculptures. His works will be exhibited at the upcoming Kochi-Muziris Biennale.
The event was part of KBF’s Let’s Talk series being organized in the run up to Kochi-Muziris Biennale 2014.
The Foundation said it will hold more such events in the coming months in association with the Kerala Folklore Museum.