The art of SURIYAMOORTHY
Biography
Born in 1944 at Neidavasal, Ancient Chola Place, 609105.
1963 : G.D First Class, First Rank, Government College of
Arts and Crafts, Chennai.
1963 - 1965 : State Lalit Kala Akademi Scholar.
1965 - 1968 : National Scholar at the MS University, Baroda
under Professor KG. Subramanian and Mjyothi Bhat Specialize
in painting, murals and graphics.
1989 - 1991 : Senior Fellowship, Government of India (Department
of Culture)
1991 - 1992 : Sri SH Daya Fellowship, Mumbai.
Awards & Prizes
1963 - 1965 : Five prizes from the Directorate of Health,
Government of India, New Delhi;
1965 : All India Fine Arts and Crafts Society, New Delhi;
UP Governor’s Award.
1967 : National Award; Academy of Fine arts, Calcutta; All
India Portrait Exhibition, Amritsar; Gujarat State Award;
Silver Medal, Hyderabad Art Society.
1970 : Victoria Technical Institute, Chennai.
1987 : Tamil Nadu Ovia Nunkalai Kuzhu, Chennai.
1989 : Christian Association – Asia Japan.
1991 - 1992 : All India Exhibition, Ambala Cantonment ( Gold
Medal )
1990 - 1991 : From Various organization at Bhopal, Chennai,
Mysore, Raipur and Vijayawada.
1992 : First India Drawing Biennale, Chandigarh.
1994 : All India Kalidas Exhibition, Uijian, Madhya Pradesh.
1999 : International Award, 20th Century.
Art Books
1997 : Major Art Trends in India since 1947, Lalit Kala Akademi,
New Delhi.
1998 : The Southern Accent by Dr. AS Raman published by Tamil
Nadu Ovia Nunkalai Kuzhu,
Chennai – 8.
Exhibitions Abroad
1964 : Art now from India --- Commonwealth Art Exhibition,
London.
1984, 1985, 1989, 1991, 1993, 1994 & 1997: Mini Graphic
International Exhibition, Spain.
1985 : International Collectors’ Art Exhibition, at
Salvador Dali’s residence, Spain.
1987, 1991, 1993, 1994, 1995 & 1997 : International Biennale,
Bulgaria: Drawing / Printing & Graphic.
1990 : International Association of Art, under the sponsorship
of UNESCO, New Zealand.
1991 : 3rd Biennale International Pastel Exhibition, France.
1993 - 1994 : Biennale Van De Kleingratiek of 1993, Sinj-Niklas.
1994 : International Poster Exhibition, Mexico.
1995 : 18th International Exhibition of Prints in Kannagana
’95.
1999 : International Art Exhibition, Romania.
One-Man Shows
1965 : Organised by George Butcher of the Arts, New Delhi;
and later at the commonwealth, London; Government Museum,
Chennai.
1966 : PS High School, Mylapore, Chennai; Lalit Kala Akademi,
New Delhi (150 works)
1970 : Sarala art Centre, Chennai (held at Hotel Connemara)
1978 - 1987 : Regional Cente, Lalit Kala Akademi, Chennai.
1987 : Sponsored by Alliance Francaise de Chennai, Raoul Follereau
Foundation, Pondicherry (750 works); Regional Center, Lalit
Kala Akademi, Chennai.
1988 : Kala Parishad, Bhopal; Government Museum, Chennai.
1990 : Airport, Chennai.
1994 : Rashtriya Kala Mela, Chenai; Regional Centre, Lalit
Kala Akademi, Chennai.
1995 : Rashtriya Kala Mela, Bangalore.
1997 : Easel Art Gallery, Chennai.
1998 : Indrakannan Unique Art Gallery, Poompuhar.
Camps
1987 : South Zone Cultural Centre (Thanjavur), Chennai (Theme
: Folk Dances); 101 Hours Campwork. South Zone Cultural Centre.
Artist Camp Madras. Among the
36 participants worked 101 hours continuously, created Large
size painting 5’x54’, 4’x10’ and 3’x6’
in the Folk Dance and Music Camp.
1988 : Tamil Nadu Ovia Nunkalai Kuzhu, Chennai : Camps held
at Madurai and Hogenakkai.
1997 : National Kalidasa Art Exhibition at Uijain.
1998 : N.L.K.A. Artist Workshop Camp at Kerala.
Collections
National Gallery of Modern Art, New Delhi; Regional Centre,
Lalit Kala Akademi, Chennai; Academy of Fine Arts, Calcutta;
Government Museum, Punjab (Chandigarh); Tamil Nadu Ovia Nunkalai
Kuzhu, Chennai, Tamil Cultural Centre, Chennai; Air India,
Mumbai; Sea Rock Hotel, Mumbai; CPIT, Guindy, Chennai; JIPMER,
Pondicherry; Tamil Nadu Archaelogical Department, Madurai;
Alliance Francaise de Chennai, Pondicherry; Chemould Gallery,
Mumbai; Government Museum, Hyderabad, Government Museum, Chennai,
South Zone; Cultural Centre, Thanjavur; Karnataka Chitra Kala
Parishath, Bangalore; Coronet Modern Art Gallery, Chennai;
Indo-Soviet Cultural Society, Chennai; Easel Art Gallery,
Chennai; Saga Art Gallery, Chennai; Values Art Foundation,
Chennai, etc.Total Valued Collection 5921 in India & Five
continents in the world; One person collections by Mr. S.H.
Daya, Mumbai.
APPRECIATION RECEIVED
Author’s Response
Suriyamoorthy is the odd man out among his contemporaries
as his spiritual kinsman, Salvador Dali, was among his : eccentric,
unpredictable, amiable in their own quaint way, artistically
irrepressible, technically impeccable and intellectually sharp.
Suriyamoorthy’s paintings are no easy to live with because
of the disurbingly unfamiliar concepts and configurations
on which they are based. Their aesthetic values are beyond
question. He is an extremely imaginative, daring, determined
and emotionally overstrung loner who is perfectly at peace
with himself, never mind what his equation with the rest of
the world is. There is so much power packed into his canvases
that one simply can’t take one’s eyes off hem.
They command you to stop by and take a close look at them.
This is that creativity does to you.
- Dr. A.S. Raman – 1999.
Critical Comment
“His mixed media paintings are different others as he
has used Siddha medical colours, mixed in gum which he discovered
after long research and after reffering to literature Siddha
medicine and botany. Painted on manifold sheets – “a
difficult material o paint on”, he says – it can
hardly be differentiated from his oil paintings. Closely drawn
figures creating a sense of family is the subject of all his
paintings. The style hovers between the realistic and the
abstract. He has used not just brush but instruments like
a funnel or a knife to colour the figures. Suriyamoorthy is
just not a painter. He is also a Scientist of heart.
- Art Critic, Sunday Mail –
1965 Drawing – One Man Show- Delhi Sponsored
by Curator George M. Butcher (Art Council of Great Britain
– London) 13th Feb 1965. Suriyamoorthy is dedicated
and gifted. Indeed his technical maturity at a very young
age is our surest sign of his probably future achievement
and just as maturity has come to him quickly so the character
of his line is defined by its speed of execution. As with
the still existing glass painters of Madras, rapidity of line
breeds not only economic efficiency but also an unduplicable
flourish and freedom.
To Whom it may concern :
My Pride and pleasure in having owned for some years, three
paintings by M. Suriyamoorthy of Tamil Nadu, India, were enhanced
by special compliments paid them by an internationally recognized
art expert and former gallery owner Mr.Heina Roland of London.
I personally consider M. Suriyamoorthy to be a highly talented
and accomplished artist who has yet to receive the international
acclaim he has long deserved.
- M. Grant Parr – 1984
(Formerly United States Cultural Attached in West Germany
and at one time art critic of the Nebraska State Journal in
Lincoln, USA).
Award to Artist India Express Jan 21, 1971
The Governor Sardor Uijal Singh presented the Mahatma Gandhi
Birth Centenary memorial award instituted by the Victoria
Technical Institute to his crayon drawing of “Elephant
an Calf”; the governor complimented the artist for his
fine drawing. Justice M.M. Ismail, President of VTI said the
drawing had been adjudged the best entry from among 221 exhibits,
including wood carving oil painting and sculpture pieces.
Mrs. D.C. Kothari A Vote of Thanks
“Gifted and Dedicated Painter”
-George M. Butcher Art Council of Great Britain –
1965
“Highly Talented and Accomplished Artist”
- W. Grant Parr (Formerly United States Cultural Attached
in West Germany and sometimes art critic of the Nebraska State
Journal in Lincoln, USA.
“M. Suriyamoorthy’s Art Works are of a
high quality” - World Bank Art Society New
York.
“Savage Painter” - Charles Fabri,
art critic Statesman, New Delhi – 1967.
“Nude Inaction – Gifted Painter”
- Richard Bartholomew art critic Times of India – New
Delhi – 1967.
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