Artists Directory >Palaniappan Rm

Palaniappan is  one of India's foremost printmakers. His themes include  maps, seals, aerial views of cities and towns and numericals. He is an artist who has explored the idiom of printmaking to the fullest including photography. He is currently head of Lalit Kala Academy, Chennai.

Some statements by the artist:

"Art is not merely aesthetic awareness. It is visual analysis and thought. Above all, it is to me an expression of the Time-Space-Environment relationship. Limited space confines thought. Only a flying man in space can make a three dimensional drawing and take it to infinity, thus expressing complete human freedom. Flight suggests limitless space and time.

For the past twelve years, my work has focused on the experience of motion. This concept involves the intricate interaction of space, time and environment. In my flying man series, this is depicted in terms of man's head with wings. Later this concept evolved further., allowing me symbolic expression through lines, arrows and dots which, like numerical systems, are culturally neutral. Numbers form the basis of science culture and define the relationship of man and universe. My childhood interest in mathematics has made me its fascinated observer. Numbers are finite as well as infinite, static as well as mobile. In my early work symbols represented physical reality. The formulae, mathematics and technical phrases related to the material universe. Today these symbols have evolved beyond material forms."

Education
1980 - Diploma in Fine Arts (Painting)
1981 - Post Diploma in Industrial Design (Ceramics), both from Govt. College of Arts and Crafts, Madras.
1982 - Working as Graphic Workshop In-charge and Secretary of Lalit Kala Akademi (Regional Centre), Madras

Solo Exhibitions - In India:

1995 - Art Heritage, New Delhi
1991 - Cymroza Art Gallery, Bombay
1990 - Art Heritage, New Delhi
1988 - Time-Space, Sakshi Gallery, Chennai;  Ideal Fine Arts, Crafts Society, Gulbarga
1987 - Time-Space - Jehangir Art Gallery, Bombay
1986 -School of Art, Jaipur
1984 -  Art Heritage, New Delhi
1979 - Lalit Kala Akademi, Chennai

Solo Exhibitions - Abroad:
1996 - Ruskin School of Drawing & Fine Arts, Oxford, U.K.
1993 - Triangle Gallery, Sinclair Community College, Dayton, USA - India Foundation
        - Union Gallery, Manhattan, Kansas - USA
        - Art Academy of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, USA
1992 - Gallerie Den Haag, Den Haag The Netherlands
1987 - Museum of Contemporary Art, Utrecht, Holland

International Exhibitions:

1993 - Graphica Creative, Alva Aalto Museum, Finland (invitation)
1991 - International Biennial Print Exhibition, Taipei, Taiwan (invitation)- II International Small Prints Triennale, Paris (invitation)
1990 - International Invitational Exhibition - University of Hawaii at Hilo, USA (invitation)
1989 - 9th British International Print Biennale, Bradford, England (invitation)
1986 -1st International Biennial of Prints, Kangawawa, Japan
1982 - 2nd Mini Prints International, Taller Galleria Ford, Barcelona, Spain

Awards/Honours:
1999 - Chief Advisor - Programmes of IGRMS (National Museum of Mankind) in Tamil Nadu
1998 - Chief Coordinator - The Spirit of Tamil Nadu (Mannin Marabu), a community museum  movement in Tamil Nadu

Artists' Camps/Workshops:
1995/92 - Coordinator for advanced lithography programme by Tamarind Institue, USA at Bharat Bhavan, Bhopal and Lalit Kala Akademi, Regional Centre, Chennai.
1992     - International Collaborative Workshop on Art - Tapestry with natural dies - Max Muller Bhavan, Chennai at Tassara Weavers Workshop, Calicut, Kerala.
1991     - International workshop by Lalit Kala Akademi, Bhubaneshwar
1990     - International Intensive Workshop on Advanced Lithography at Tamarind Institute,  University of New Mexico, USA
1981-90 - Several graphic workshops and Artists' camp in India.

Collections:
British Museum, London
United States Library of Congress, Washington D.C.
St. Edmand Hall, Oxford University, Oxford, U.K.
National Gallery of Modern Art, New Delhi
Apparao Gallery, Chennai
Lali Kala Akadami, New Delhi

Address:
9/3-L Gokul Apartments, United India Colony, 4th Cross, Kodambakkam, Chennai - 600 024.