A P Santhanaraj

AP Santhanaraj, born in 1932 in Tamil Nadu, is celebrated as one of the foremost figures in Indian art. His educational journey began at the Government College of Arts and Crafts in Chennai, where he not only studied but also later taught. He eventually became the principal of the institute, a position he held until his retirement in 1990.

One of the most intriguing aspects of Santhanaraj’s process is his rejection of traditional canvas placement. Instead of positioning the canvas vertically, he lays it flat on the ground and approaches it from multiple angles. This method highlights the artist’s unconventional and uninhibited thought process. This untraditional approach extends to his use of color, which is not employed for its emotional associations but for the atmosphere it creates within the artwork. His focus on the most basic elements allows him to convey his thoughts and ideas through a pure, unfiltered lens.

 He passed away in May 2009 at Chitlapakkam, near Tambaram, leaving behind a legacy of pioneering artistic expression.