Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala,
India – 10 September 2025
An exhibition titled “Masterpieces: A Tribute” is honoring the legacies of two seminal figures in modern Kerala art, K.M. Vasudevan Namboodiri and C.N. Karunakaran. The show highlights how these artists, through their distinct styles, reinterpreted the state’s rich cultural heritage to forge a new, contemporary artistic language.
A landmark exhibition at the College of Fine Arts in Thiruvananthapuram is paying homage to two artists whose work profoundly shaped the course of contemporary art in Kerala. K.M. Vasudevan Namboodiri and C.N. Karunakaran, both of whom have passed away, are being celebrated for their roles in bridging the gap between traditional forms and modern expression. The exhibition features a curated selection of 31 works by Namboodiri and 85 works by Karunakaran, offering a comprehensive look at their unique contributions.
Headlines:
* A New Look at Kerala’s Artistic Heritage: The exhibition, “Masterpieces: A Tribute,” showcases how two artists, Namboodiri and Karunakaran, redefined the state’s visual art, moving it from traditional forms into a modern context.
* Namboodiri, the “Emperor of Lines”: K.M. Vasudevan Namboodiri is celebrated for his iconic, minimalist line sketches and sepia-toned works that capture a bygone era of Kerala life and culture, particularly his famous literary illustrations.
* Karunakaran, the Master of Color: In stark contrast to Namboodiri, C.N. Karunakaran is remembered for his vibrant and surrealist oil paintings, which are an explosion of color and populated by phantasmagorical figures.
* Celebrating a Birth Centenary: The exhibition serves as a tribute ahead of the centenary celebration of K.M. Vasudevan Namboodiri’s birth on September 13, highlighting his immense versatility and influence.
* A Dialogue Between Two Masters: The show is arranged to draw a fascinating comparison between the two artists, presenting Namboodiri’s masterful austerity alongside Karunakaran’s expressionistic use of color.
K.M. Vasudevan Namboodiri (1925-2023), often referred to as the “Emperor of Lines” by legendary author V.K.N., was a master of illustration and sculpture. His work, characterized by its elegant minimalism and an incredible attention to detail, can be seen in the countless illustrations he created for Malayalam literature’s most celebrated works. The exhibition includes some of his final creations, such as charcoal sketches and oils, which pay tribute to the reddish laterite soil of Kerala. A large charcoal portrait of Karunakaran by Namboodiri himself welcomes visitors to the gallery, symbolizing the connection between the two artists.
C.N. Karunakaran (1940-2013) forged his own path, using color and form in a distinctly different way. While Namboodiri focused on capturing realism and a fading Kerala, Karunakaran’s works are an explosion of imaginative color palettes and fantastical figures. His works, which include oils, acrylics, and watercolours, are known for their playful use of geometric forms and dreamlike quality.
Both artists were trained under the legendary K.C.S. Panicker at the Madras School of Arts and Crafts, and both served as Chairmen of the Kerala Lalithakala Academy, yet their artistic languages diverged dramatically. This exhibition, curated by Deepa Seetharam, successfully presents a dialogue between the two masters, showcasing how Namboodiri’s evocative simplicity and Karunakaran’s colorful expressionism both contributed to the rich tapestry of modern art in Kerala. The tribute not only honors their individual achievements but also cements their collective legacy as the artists who taught Kerala to see itself in a new, more contemporary light.
