K. Janardanan, better known as Artist Janardanan, is a

painter Painting is the practice of applying paint, pigment, color or other medium to a solid surface (called the "matrix" or "support"). The medium is commonly applied to the base with a brush, but other implements, such as knives, sponges, and ai ...

in the state of Kerala, India. His paintings depict the culture and tradition of Kannur, which has a resonant past with myths and legends. He has a passion for Theyyam, which is the vibrant ritual dance of

North Kerala North Malabar refers to the geographic area of southwest India covering the state of Kerala's present day Kasaragod, Kannur, and Wayanad districts, and the taluks of Vatakara, Koyilandy, and Thamarassery in the Kozhikode District of Kerala and t ...

. His most acclaimed works symbolize the rich cultural heritage and folklore of his land. Though Theyyam had been used a motif in his paintings in the 1980s, he has made a significant move as his recent works show a different context. He is emphasizing more on figurations. His paintings are also sensitive to the social environment and they empathize with human beings in distress. Though he was adept in perpetually changing trends of art, he maintains a very exceptional and captivating style of his own. His paintings have their own language and no wonder they won him rave reviews.

Early life

Janardanan was born in Kannur, a district in

, India in 1935. He started off his art education at a very young age. He worked as head of the department of art and photography at Calicut University.

Awards

* Kerala Lalitha Kala Akademi- 1970,1973,1974 and 1978 * Highly Commended certificate – 1987 and 1995

Honours

* 2001 - Kaladarpanam - Cochin * 2011 - Kerala Chitrakala Partishath * 2012 - Kerala Laithkala Akademi

References

Artists felicitated

External links

* 1935 births 20th-century Indian painters Artists from Kannur Living people Painters from Kerala {{India-painter-stub