A. Ramachandran
“I have always believed that every artist should develop a visual language and grammar of their own” – A. Ramachandran.
A. Ramachandran (1935-2024) was one of India’s most distinguished and prolific artists. Born in Attingal, Kerala, he trained in art at Kala Bhavana, Visva Bharati University in Santiniketan, West Bengal, under the guidance of Bengal School masters, notably Ramkinkar Baij and Benodebehari Mukherjee.
Ramachandran worked across diverse mediums, including paintings, sculptures, watercolours, drawings, miniature paintings, and illustrations. His early works engaged with social realities and political concerns, employing irony and black humour.
Inspired by his frequent visits to the lotus ponds and Bhil villages outside Udaipur, his later works celebrated the beauty of life and nature. Ramachandran’s art diverged from Eurocentric modernist narratives by turning instead to non-Western modernisms. In his later years, he drew deeply from Eastern artistic traditions.
His large lotus pond paintings and self-image are recognizable motifs in his art, reflecting both his inner world and a deep engagement with his surroundings.
