S.K. RAJAVELU

Bio

Rajavelu graduated from the Government College of Arts and Crafts, Madras in 1963 and was a Government of India Cultural Scholar under KCS Paniker in 1963-64 and a National Scholar under NS Bendre at MS University, Baroda in 1964-65. He was later the Dy. Director of Weavers’ Service Centre, Government of India, Vijayawada.

He employs striking linear line drawings, line and colours in various mediums like acrylic, charcoal, pastel, ink, watercolours on paper and canvas. He was accused of painting explicitly erotic pictures, but he neither defends nor disowns them, just moving on to his next canvas, without getting into controversy. The human form fascinates him in totality – he does not break it up into fragments. As he says, “Who am I to tear asunder what God conceived and created as an integral whole? I can express my love of life in the only language I know: line and colour”.

He has exhibited since 1960. A few notable shows were – Birla Academy of Art and Culture, Calcutta, 1972 and Max Muller Bhavan, Bangalore, 1975, apart from all major shows at State, National, and international levels all over India and abroad. Rajavelu received the National Award from the Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi in 1967, and was felicitated by Tamil Nadu Ovia Nunkalai Kuzhu, Chennai in 1987.