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Celebration of Solitude and Humanity

NGMA will be presenting a retrospective of Yusuf Arakkal from today

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru:

Yusuf Arakkal was first and foremost a figurative painter whose concern was humanity - its many hues, struggles, and pains. He always termed himself as a ‘figurative realistic painter’ and his activities are spread beyond the four walls of his studio... the streets, the pavements. As an artist, he has a huge body of works to his credit, and he wanted to hold a major show in Bengaluru. However, he could not fulfil his dream when he was alive, and this retrospective is a befitting homage to him.

Born in Kerala in 1945, Arakkal’s creative life began in Bengaluru. After getting his diploma in painting from Chitrakala Parishath College of Art in the city in 1973, he specialized in graphic printmaking from Lalit Kala Akademi’s community studio, Garhi, in Delhi, in 1980. “Yusuf Arakkal is an important and celebrated artist from the southern region of the country who left an indelible mark in the art world through his diverse creative pursuits and expressions.

This exhibition is the first-ever ever major retrospective of the artist showcasing a large body of his work spanning over 5 decades. The exhibition attempts to give a wide spectrum view of all the major series produced by the artist which also includes some of his award winning works and traces the contours of his remarkable and unparalleled creative endeavours,” says Nazneen Banu, Director NGMA Bengaluru.

She further added, “His sinusoidal life curve from being born in a royal family to dwelling on the streets of Bangalore to becoming a celebrated artist and associated personal experiences were at the core of his myriad creative expressions. Most of his works are intense and demand serious engagement from their viewers. His art is timeless and indeed an art of serious contemplation and deep reflection for humanity at large.” “He successfully established a style and he focused on figuration when abstraction was the order of the day. He unwaveringly stuck to his style and proved himself right in the end,” says his wife Sara Arakkal, who is the force behind this show.

Though he had many solo shows in India and abroad, as well as being part of many prestigious group shows all over the world, many of his works are yet to be exhibited in the form of a retrospective thus showcasing the huge repertoire of works, which include mediums like oil, watercolour, graphics, collages, and sculptures in different mediums.

This show comprises works from all the major periods of Yusuf, who ran away from his native place as a teenager and established his creative identity in Bengaluru. NGMA Bengaluru curatorial team and Sara Arakkal have painstakingly selected the works, including his paintings, sculptures, and drawings spanning over 45 years.

Where: NGMA Bengaluru, Palace Road When: Oct 14 onwards, 11 am – 6 pm