A. VISWAM (b.1950) A.Viswam from Keelavannam, Ariyalur District, Tamilnadu, obtained his Diploma in painting from Government College of Art & Craft, Kumbakonam in 1974 and Post Diploma in Painting from Government College of Art & Craft Madras in 1978. He has been the founder member of Pallava Artists village, Padappai and member of Contemporary Painters & Writers Association, Salem and also Secretary of Indo-Russian Art academy in Chennai. He has held exhibitions in the country and abroad since 1979 till date at Bhubaneshwar, Kolkata, New Delhi, Mumbai and Chennai, Bangalore, Salem, Trichy, Singapore, USA, Scotland and  Malaysia.   His solo shows include ‘Eternal Elements’ at Focus art gallery, Chennai 2012, ‘Space Odyssey’ at Forum art gallery, Chennai, 2010, ‘The Origin of species’ at L.K.A. regional centre, Chennai, sponsored by Shanthivanam art foundation (SAFION) 2008, ‘Elements of Infinity’, Nagpur sponsored by Roshan Patel, ‘Originals’ 2007, at Lakshana art gallery Chennai and Hyderabad 2006.   Some of his group shows include, 2014 Art fair Malaysia at Kuala Lumpur, ‘Masters and Heros’ at Art Spice gallery, Delhi 2013, ‘The Lines’ at Vinnyasa art gallery, Chennai 2012, ‘Gestural Abstraction’ at Art Chennai 2011, Group shows at Art & Soul art gallery, Indo-Russsian cultural centre, Chennai 2011, ‘The Madras Accent’ at Bangalore & Hyderabad 2010, Gnana art gallery, Singapore 2007 & 2009, ‘Remembering Adhi’ at Forum art gallery, Chennai 2009, Artworld gallery tenth anniversary show, Chennai and ‘Coast to Coast’ at Singapore 2007, ‘The Southern Dawn’ at L.K.A. Chennai 2008, ‘The Madras Canvas’ at Forum art gallery, Chennai 2007 and Kuala Lumpur 2009, (Ray 0 painters) at L.K.A. Chennai and Chitrakala Parishad, Bangalore 2006, ‘The tenth Harmony’ show at World trade centre, Mumbai 2005 at Jehangir art gallery, Mumbai 1997, 1999, & 2002.   Viswam has received numerous honors, which include 1995 - National Award, Lalit kala Akademi, New Delhi, 1992 - State Award Tamil Nadu, Lalit Kala Akademi, Madras; 1992 - Regional Award Lalit Kala Akademi, Regional Center, Madras; 1997 - All India Fine Arts & Crafts Society Award for 50th year of art in Independence India 19 at Chennai; In 1996 invited for the Asian Biennial at Bangladesh and invited for the cultural exchange program in Angara by National Lalit Kala Academi, New Delhi; 2000-2002, awarded Senior Fellowship Human Resources, Department of Culture, New Delhi. He has also served as a purchase committee member in the National exhibition of art, L.K.A. at New Delhi, 1996-1997. Worked as a Jury member for the Camelin art foundation at Hyderabad 2007, and as a Jury member for the national exhibition of art L.K.A. 2011. Worked as Jury member for the 1st south Indian art show by Chandra Ilango art foundation, Chennai 2013. The artist lives and works in Chennai.