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N. S. MANOHAR  (b.1957)

N.S. Manohar hails from Kumbakonam and he completed his B.F.A in Kumbakonam College of Arts in 1982, his DFA in 1983 and MFA in 1999 in Government College of Arts and crafts, Chennai. Manohar challenges the dominant style variations of Modernism and Post-modernism by presenting themes that include rural sites, linear figure compositions and drawings, as well as domestic animals, such as goats.

The continuing attraction of an animal for artist is the perception that in some way it is aligned with creativity. Perhaps subconsciously the artist is also dealing directly with his own Persona, which emerges through artistic expression.  While the goat may be taken for granted because it exists everywhere in rural areas its presence in art evokes several layers of meaning; the goat is sensitive but it also can symbolize victory, overt sexuality and religious or artistic activity. Manohar's goats are individualized and possess human dimensions, indicating the uncanny relationship with animals he achieves by study and observation.

His academic grounding was in watercolor, with landscapes of Kumbakonam rendered in typical “Kumbakonam college style". Thin, transparent layers of paint were used to achieve a poetic realistic style, evoking moods and emotions. This technique found a similar translation in his work with oils and acrylics. Charcoal became his favourite medium for detailed studies. Eventually these interests were replaced by pen and ink, which offered a chance to explore the stylization of forms through cross-hatching, value gradations and the oppositions of negative and positive spaces. Those opened vistas for abstraction during his student days, when he won the student Lalit Kala Academy award. Contextualized as he was in the densely populated temple town of Kumbakonam, Manohar began to sketch life studies of the people around him and was inspired by old family photographs as well.

The exhibitions that Manohar has been a part of from 1978 till 2013 are Annual Exhibitions College of Fine Arts, Kumbakonam, Annual Exhibitions Upa-Trichy, Dasara Festival, Mysuru, and Tamil Nadu Ovia Nun Kalai Kuzhu for the past 20 years. He has participated in National Exhibitions in New Delhi Lalit Kala Academy.

His One Man shows include, ‘Remembering the Past’ at Ayya Art Gallery, Chennai, Gnani Art Gallery, Singapore, ‘Adhimoolam Memorial Drawing Exhibition’ at Parvathi Art Gallery, Chennai.

He has had Group Shows at Ethos Gallery, Bengaluru, Parvathi Art Gallery, Chennai, organised by Kovillur Madalayam, Karaikudi, Lalit Kala Academy, Chennai, organised by AZR Painters Club, ‘Metal on Canvas’ at Ray O Gallery, Chennai, Art Fusion Show, Nehru Centre, Mumbai, Gnani Art Gallery, Singapore, KL Art Gallery, Malaysia and Concordia College, New York.

N. S. Manohar has received numerous Awards like the State Level Student Award from Lalit Kala Academy, Chennai and Central Level Senior category, Lalit Kala Academy.

The artist lives and works in Chennai.

 

 
N.S.Manohar - August 26 - 14 , 2019
Gallery Collection - 2021 - March 22 - 30 , 2021
SelectedWorks
 
ArtistCV
 
PastExhibitions
 

N. S. Manohar