"I do not adhere to limitations, which is why I consider myself a ‘bohurupi’ in Indian art,” artist A. Ramachandran had said before the opening of his 2022 show, Songs Of Reclamation, at Emami Art, Kolkata, And indeed, throughout his prolific career, he refused to be tied down by mediums, themes or art theories. The 89-year-old artist, who died in Delhi last week, worked on children’s books, sculptures, oils, watercolours, drawings, sketches and more.
Born in Attingal, Kerala, in 1935, Ramachandran had always been interested in different forms of art, be it music, painting or literature. He was not only proficient in Carnatic music but in poetry and prose as well. He earned a master’s degree in Malayalam literature before pursuing a diploma in fine arts and craft from Kala Bhavan, Visva Bharati University, Santiniketan, 1958 onwards, where he studied under masters such as Ramkinkar Baij, Benode Behari Mukherjee and Nandalal Bose.
