The achievements of Madathil Vasudevan, popularly known as M V Devan, who passed away in Ernakulam on Tuesday, mark him as one of the outstanding artists of his generation.
The octogenarian, a multifaceted artist, was a popular designer, sculptor, writer, orator and one of the best-known architects in the State. His works, which discovered the unknown realms of art, speak of his engagement with the nature and the society. In 1954, the Tamil Nadu Government entrusted M V Devan with the task of setting up its Lalita Kala Academi, and made him its first secretary. Meanwhile, the Kerala Government made him chairman of the Kerala Lalita Kala Academy from 1974 to 1977. During that period, he established an organisation named ‘Perunthachan’, which provided consultancy for the housing sector.
Even though Devan became a pioneer in many sectors in the State, including architecture, the chairmanship of the Kerala Lalitha Kala Akedmi was a belated recognition for him.
“But curiously, it was the government led by C Achutha Menon that took the initiative to recognise his contributions, though he was known as anti-communist,” said Kerala Sangeetha Natka Akedmi secretary Dr P V Krishnan Nair. “Though Laurie Baker, the high-priest of organic architecture, developed the eco-friendly and low-cost building methods, it was Devan who spread the Laurie Baker-style of architecture in the State,” he said. “Besides, the print media in the State is grossly indebted to Devan as he was the first person who started creative illustration in the Malayalam print media, by giving life to characters of renowned writers though his fine stroke of brushes,” Krishnan Nair added.
Devan’s design of the Trappistine Monastery in Kerala, a lovely eight-sided chapel that is a balance between complementary opposites of mountain and cave; light and dark; male and female; and so forth, won several accolades during that time. It was a classic example of his architectural acumen.
