A CNK retrospective in Kochi pays tribute to the genius of the late artist

In 1992, Palette People, one of the earliest art promoter groups in Kerala, hosted CN Karunakaran’s first solo show. Thirty years later, it is hosting ‘CN30’, a retrospective of the late artist’s work, as a tribute to his genius.

Cyril Jacob, founder of Palette People, says “CNK, as he was known, was a prolific artist with a vast body of “over 1,000 paintings all over the world”. His style was a mixture of various influences – Kerala mural art, Indian mythology, fantasy and folk – and the fluidity of forms and figures, the brightness of colours, and mystical tales gave a distinctive identity to his works. The female form was at the center of his canvas, and his animal figures flew on the wings of the imagination. Went.

Jacob remembers bringing up the idea of ​​a solo show to CNK 30 years ago. They needed 30 jobs in six months. “He was very busy then, but agreed to the idea. This surprised me. CNK painted Fast and Furious. He acted like an office goer: start at 8.30 am, have lunch Take a break, return to the easel and stop at 5 p.m. Art came out of his brush.” The paintings were displayed at the new Woodlands Jewelery Building on MG Road.

Veteran politician EMS Namboodiripad, who inaugurated the event, said, “I don’t know anything about art.” Jacob says this was a turning point in CNK’s career. Of the 37 works shown, 25 were sold, and CNK received offers from a Chennai-based gallerist and a large corporate house to work on the murals. It was from here that the artist grew in stature and exhibited his works in India and abroad.

All the work in the current show is in acrylic and oil on canvas and comes in a variety of sizes. Jacob, who has been following the artist’s work since the mid-1970s, says, “The colors are more subdued than in his early works because they belong to a later period of the artist’s painting timeline.”

CN30 is on show at David Hall, Fort Kochi till November 6.

CNK (1940–2013) received formal training in art at the Government College of Fine Arts, Chennai. He also made advertisement films and worked as an art director for some Malayalam films.

In 1970, he returned to Kochi where he joined the Kerala Kalapidom (Kerala Institute of Arts) and formed a close circle of people in the arts and cinema. In 1973, he founded Chitrakootam, Kerala’s first privately owned art gallery, but soon closed it down to focus on his career.

Among his various honors is the Kerala Lalitakala Akademi Award, which he won thrice. He was also the President of the Academy in 2006.