Artists

Dr.Sevetoslov Roerich
(1904-1993)
Painter

Born in Saint Petersburg of Russian in 1904 Roerich studied in Sweden and London and later graduated from Harvard in 1920.He came to India and settled in the beautiful Tataguni Estate in Bangalore after marrying Devika Rani, the famous film star in 1945. Exhibitions of his paintings were held not only in India but also in many other cities of the world. He held one of the most successful exhibitions in New Delhi on an invitation from Pt. Nehru. his paintings of Devikarani and other paintings like nearer to you, Mother Earth, Patter's House, Red Sari won him international fame and innumerable awards. In 1961 the government of India conferred on him the prestigious 'Padmabhushana' award. After having conquered the world with his paintings, He died on the 30th of Jan 1993

Ponnappa
Cartoonist

Born in Mangalore (Coastal Karnataka) in 1948,Ponnappa's early education was in Mangalore, pune and madras. He graduated as an architect and went abroad for higher studies in Chicago. He dropped out, came back to work as an architect in Madras, Delhi and Lagos. He settled down in Bangalore in 1982 to pursue a career as a freelance cartoonist. His work, satirical, witty, always with a cutting edge have appeared in most major publications in India, making him a house hold name. He contributes to The Times Of India and The Economic Times (dailies) in Bangalore and the mid-day (daily) in Mumbai.

Laxman R.K
Cartoonist

The undisputed king of Indian cartooning, Rasipuram Krishnaswami laxman began by drawing illustrations for brother Narayan's short stories and novels. He then moved on to the free press journal then the Times Of India (TOI), BOTH DAILY newspapers. He is TOI's mascot, with his derisive portraits of all governments and people in positions of authority. His baffled 'common man' in 'You said it' has been in the wings of the corridors of power for around 50 years now. His cartoons are published in book form too. Laxman is as caustic in real life and his most recent attempt is a "Talking Book' 'The Messenger'.

Yusuf Arakkal
Painter, Sculptor.

Descendant of the ruling Charakkal family of Kerala, an orphan Yusuf was brought up in luxury by his aunt. Restless in traditional atmosphere, Yusuf came to Bangalore in his teens, worked as a technical apprentice initially. He did a fine arts course in Chitrakala Parishath in 1969,after his true calling. Training in portrait painting under Jaya Varma, his first one-man show in 1975 put him on the road to fame. Yusuf says that he is inspired by Gaugin and India's Amritha Sher-Gil. The subject of his paintings are people, sad ,gaunt, paper skinned, hollow eyed, trapped in a disturbing landscape of fragmented color. He experiments with new materials, ideas and images taken from literature and art. Yusuf's works exhibited and owned all over the world, they have won him numerous awards: Karnataka Lalitkala Academy Award (1979 and 1981), National Award (1983), and a special Award at the Asian Blennale, Dhaka in 1986.

B.K.S. Varma
Painter

Born in 1949, father was a musician and mother was an artist. in 1965 he worked as an assistant to the art Director for the movies, 'ADMI'. in Bangalore under the guidance of A.C.H. Acharya. in 1986 he got state Lalitha Kala Academy Award and in 1987, the Dasara Lalitha Kala Vibhag best painting award. the same year his two paintings were selected for the Indian Festival in Russia. His exhibition at Karnataka Chitra Kala Parishat was inaugurated by the great artist Roerich himself and his wife Devika Rani. His paintings on the subject of 'Environment and its protection' have made him and his paintings both in India and abroad. His latest venture is 'Kavya Chitra' a combination of poetry and paintings. At present he has an art gallery in Bangalore called 'VARNASINDHU'.