Kanayi Kunhiraman

Last updated

Kanayi Kunhiraman
Kanayi Kunhiraman Image (cropped).jpg
Kunhiraman in 2019
Born (1937-07-25) 25 July 1937 (age 86)
Kuttamath, Kasaragod district, Kerala, British India
OccupationSculptor
Years active1960–present
Notable work
  • Tamilnadu Woman
  • Malampuzha Yakshi
  • Sagarakanyaka
  • Mukkola Perumal
SpouseNalini
Awards
  • Raja Ravi Varma Award
    2005
  • Thikkurissy Award
    2006
  • MS Nanjunda Rao National Award
    2018
Website www.kanayikunhiraman.com

Kanayi Kunhiraman (born 25 July 1937) is an Indian sculptor, best known for his outsize sculptures such as Yakshi of Malampuzha Dam Gardens, Sagarakanyaka at Shankumugham Beach and Mukkola Perumal trinity in Kochi. Taught by K. C. S. Paniker, [1] he is a former chairman of the Lalit Kala Academy, India's national academy of fine arts. The Government of Kerala awarded him the inaugural Raja Ravi Varma Award in 2005. He is also a recipient of the Thikkurissy Award and the inaugural MS Nanjunda Rao National Award of the Karnataka Chitrakala Parishath. In 2022, he was honoured with Kerala Sree Award, third highest civilian award given by the Government of Kerala. [2]

Contents

Biography

Government College of Fine Arts, Chennai Govt Fine Arts College Madras.jpg
Government College of Fine Arts, Chennai

Kunhiraman was born on 25 July 1937 at Kuttamath in Hosdurg Taluk of Kanhangad in Kasaragod District of the south Indian state of Kerala. [3] After early schooling at the local schools in Kuttamath and Puthaott, he joined Raja's high school, Nileshwaram to pass the Secondary School Leaving Certificate examination in 1957. [4] A teacher at his school, by name Krishnan Kutty, encouraged him to pursue his artistic interests but he did not get encouragement from his family which forced him to flee home to Chennai where he studied sculpture at the Government College of Fine Arts, Chennai. [5] It was during his days here, Kunhiraman had the opportunity to come in contact with K. C. S. Paniker who was a faculty and later, the principal of the institution.[ citation needed ] After completing the course, he worked as a part-time teacher at Ethiraj College for Women from 1961 but when he received the Commonwealth Scholarship, he moved to England to study at the Slade School of Fine Art [1] in 1965; he spent three years at the school. On his return to Kerala, he undertook a number of assignments and in 1976, he was invited to head the department of sculpture of the College of Fine Arts Trivandrum; he would also serve the institution as its principal until 1978 when he was nominated as the chair of the Kerala Lalithakala Akademi; he would also chair the academy again in 2001. [3]

Kunhiraman is married to Nalini. [6]

Legacy

Mukkola Perumal in front of GCDA building Greater Cochin Development Authority.JPG
Mukkola Perumal in front of GCDA building

On his return to Kerala from Chennai, Kunhiraman was commissioned by the irrigation department of Kerala, on recommendation from K. C. S. Paniker, [7] for an art work to be installed at the Malampuzha dam garden and he created Yakshi, a 5.5-metre (18 ft) statue of a naked woman, sitting on the lawns; the sensuality of the sculpture drew protests from traditionalists. [5] Two years later, he was invited by the Greater Cochin Development Authority (GCDA) for two sculptures in the premises of their new office in Kadavanthra and he created Environmental Pieces and Mukkola Perumal, both concrete sculptures. [8] He also created a sculpture, Fertility at Ambalamedu premises of the Fertilisers and Chemicals Travancore. In 1990, he completed the Jalakanyaka (Mermaid), a 23-metre (75 ft) sculpture at Shankumugham Beach, in Thiruvananthapuram; [9] The beach also has another of his sculptures titled, Snake. [8]

The bronze bust of K. P. P. Nambiar, the Padma Bhushan winning technocrat, [10] and the bust of K. C. Mammen Mappillai are two conventional sculptures created by Kunhiraman. [6] Amma in Payyambalam, Akshara Shilpam in Kottayam, [11] Conch, Seats, Nandi and Embrace at Veli Tourist Village, [12] are some of his other works. [8] [13] Melathara and Kalithara, dedicated to public with the accompaniment from a violin concert by L. Athira Krishna in Kollam in 2008. [14] and the Aksharashilpam, at the premises of the public library in Kottayam feature among his more recent works. [15] He has also published on poetry anthology, titled, Kānāyi Kuñhirāmant̲e Kavitakaḷ. [16]

Awards and honours

Kunhiraman, who has designed many of the statuettes for various awards in Kerala, [17] was selected by Kerala Lalithakala Akademi for their annual award, Raja Ravi Varma Award, in 2005, making him the first sculptor to receive the honour. [18] He received the Thikkurissy Award in 2006 [19] and Karnataka Chitrakala Parishath awarded him the inaugural MS Nanjunda Rao National Award for Art in 2018. [20] Lalit Kala Akademi, the national academy of India for fine arts, published a book on Kunhiraman's works in 2008. [21] [22] In 2011, he received the T. K. Ramakrishnan Award instituted by Abu Dhabi Sakthi Theatres for his overall contribution. [23] He was conferred the Kerala Sree award instituted by Government of Kerala in 2022. [24]

Selected works

YearWorkMediumVenuePlace
1953Mother and ChildConcrete Payyambalam, Kannur
1957BeggarPlaster of Paris Government College of Fine Arts Chennai
1957JawaanBronze State Bank of India Chennai
1958A figureBronze Victoria and Albert Museum London
1958Mother and FatherConcrete Government College of Fine Arts Chennai
1958Portrait of the Painter Rani PoovaiahConcrete Government College of Fine Arts Chennai
1964Amma (Mother)GranitePrivate CollectionNew Delhi
1969YakshiConcrete Malampuzha dam garden Malampuzha
1971FertilityConcrete FACT Ambalamedu
1972Environmental PiecesConcrete GCDA Complex Kochi
1973Mukkola PerumalConcrete GCDA Complex Kochi
1975HorseJunk sculpture National Gallery of Modern Art New Delhi
1976ReliefConcrete Mullakkal Temple Alappuzha
1985 Kengal Hanumanthaiah Bronze Vidhana Soudha Bengaluru
1986EmbraceConcrete Veli Tourist Village Thiruvananthapuram
1986The ConchConcrete, Veli Tourist Village Thiruvananthapuram
1986AattamConcrete Veli Tourist Village Thiruvananthapuram
1990RelaxationConcrete Shankumugham Beach Thiruvananthapuram
1990Sagarakanyaka (The Mermaid)Concrete Shankumugham Beach Thiruvananthapuram
1992SnakeConcrete Shankumugham Beach Thiruvananthapuram
1998NandiConcrete Veli Tourist Village Thiruvananthapuram
2001InfinityBronze
2001Labour's HandBronze
2001SeatsConcrete Payyambalam Beach Kannur
2001Thai (Mother)Concrete Payyambalam Beach Kannur
2008Melathara and KalitharaConcreteSopanam Complex Kollam
2015AksharashilpamConcretePublic Library Kottayam
2018Reclining figureConcreteMahakavi Kumaranasan Memorial Thonnakkal
2018 Kumaran Asan BronzeMahakavi Kumaranasan Memorial Thonnakkal
2018 Vikram Sarabhai Bronze Indian Space Research Organisation Bengaluru

Books on Kanayai Kunhiraman

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">T. K. Padmini</span> Indian painter

T. K. Padmini was an Indian painter from the south India state of Kerala. A recipient of multiple awards from the Chennai centre of the Lalit Kala Akademi, she was one of the prominent Indian woman painters. Her paintings have been displayed at The National Art Gallery, Salar Jung Museum, Hyderabad and the Durbar Hall Ground Art Gallery of Kerala Lalithakala Akademi. She died on 11 May 1969 at the age of 29.

Malampuzha, is a town and suburb of Palakkad city, Kerala, India. It is located about 3.5km from Malampuzha Dam and 6km from city centre.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shankumugham Beach</span> Important beach in Trivandrum

Shankumugham Beach is a beach in Thiruvananthapuram district of Kerala, south India. The beach is on the western side of Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum) and is very close to Trivandrum International Airport.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">C. N. Karunakaran</span> Indian painter and illustrator

C. N. Karunakaran was an Indian painter, illustrator and art director from Kerala. He was the Chairman of the Kerala Lalitakala Academy and a recipient of several honours including the Kerala Lalithakala Akademi Award which he won thrice. The Akademi honoured him again with the fellowship in 2005.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">M. V. Devan</span> Indian sculptor, (1928 – 2014)

Madathil Vasudevan, popularly identified as M. V. Devan, was an Indian painter, sculptor, writer, art critic and orator. Besides his artistic works, he was also known for his architectural designs for a number of cultural institutions as well as for his contributions in founding Kerala Kalapeetom, Kochi-based cultural organization, Malayala Kalagramam, an art village in New Mahe and Kalagramam, another art village in Kollam. A former chairman of the Kerala Lalithakala Akademi, he was a recipient of several honours including the Raja Ravi Varma Puraskaram of the Kerala Lalithakala Akademi, the Vayalar Award and the Mathrubhumi Literary Award.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Namboothiri (artist)</span> Indian painter and sculptor (1925–2023)

Karuvattu Mana Vasudevan Namboothiri, better known as Artist Namboothiri or simply Namboothiri, was an Indian painter and sculptor, known for his line art and copper relief works. He illustrated for many Malayalam writers such as Thakazhy Shivasankara Pillai, Kesavadev, M. T. Vasudevan Nair, Uroob, S. K. Pottekkatt, Edasseri Govindan Nair, and V.K.N., and was one of the most prolific literary illustrators of India. He was also a chairman of the Kerala Lalithakala Akademi. The Akademi awarded him the Raja Ravi Varma Award in 2003. He was also a recipient of the Kerala State Film Award for Best Art Director.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kerala Lalithakala Akademi</span>

Kerala Lalithakala Academy for Fine Arts is an autonomous body in Kerala state, India.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Malayattoor Ramakrishnan</span> Indian writer

K. V. Ramakrishna Iyer, better known by his pen name, Malayattoor Ramakrishnan, was an Indian writer of Malayalam literature, cartoonist, lawyer, judicial magistrate, and Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer. He was best known for his novels, short stories and biographical sketches and his works include Yanthram, Verukal, Yakshi and Service Story – Ente IAS Dinangal. He received the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Novel in 1967. He was also a recipient of the Vayalar Award in 1979.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Akkitham Narayanan</span> Indian painter

Akkitham Narayanan is a Paris-based Indian painter from Kerala. A student of such artists as K. C. S. Paniker, D. P. Roy Choudhury and Jean Bertholle, Narayanan's paintings are on display at various museums and galleries in many countries such as India, France, Japan, Poland and Germany. He is a three time recipient of the Tamil Nadu State Lalit Kala Akademi Award, Raja Ravi Varma Award of the Kerala Lalithakala Akademi and the Cagnes-sur-Mer International Festival of Painting Award.

T.A.S Menon is former principal of the Raja Ravi Varma College of Fine Arts Mavelikara, Kerala, India. He is a former executive member of the Kerala Lalita Kala Akademi, former jury member of the Raja Ravi Varma Award, former executive member of the Kerala Kalamandalam, Examination board chief of the institute of Mural painting, and a patron of the Narendra Prasad foundation.

C. L. Porinchukutty was an Indian artist and art educator. He was born in Thrissur in the erstwhile state of Cochin in 1932. He practised art under the tutelage of veteran artist P. I. Ithoop, a disciple of Abanindranath Tagore. After attaining a Diploma in Painting from the Government of Madras, he took a degree in English literature from the University of Kerala and Post-Graduation in Painting with Gold Medal from the University of Udaipur, Rajasthan.

Francis Kodankandath is an Indian contemporary artist. He won the 2003–2004 National Academy Award and the 1993 Kerala Lalit Kala Academy Award.He is son of Prof.K.P Antony and Mrs.Achamma Antony. He is a member of the Thandikkal Kodankandath family, Manaloor, Trichur, Kerala.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rajasekharan Parameswaran</span> Indian artist (born 1964)

Rajasekharan Parameswaran, also known as Marthandam Rajasekharan, is an Indian art director and self-taught painter from Tamil Nadu. He holds two Guinness World Records.

S. Nandagopal was an Indian sculptor and painter, known for his sculptures in metal. He was one of the last members of the Madras Art Movement which pioneered modernism in art in south India and the son of K. C. S. Paniker, the founder of the movement as well as the Cholamandal Artists' Village. A two-time recipient of the Lalit Kala Akademi Award, Nandagopal was awarded the Jindal Stainless Steel Award for Sculpture in 2002.

The Raja Ravi Varma Puraskaram is an annual award given by the Kerala Lalithakala Akademi, Government of Kerala to a person showing excellence in the field of art and culture. The award is named after Raja Ravi Varma, the Indian Malayali painter and artist. The Kerala state Government instituted this award to honour outstanding Kerala painters and sculptors in 2001. The first recipient was K G Subramanian.

T.R. Udayakumar is an Indian contemporary artist living in Kottayam, Kerala.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">B.D. Dethan</span> Indian painter

B.D.Dethan is an Indian painter from the state of Kerala. A recipient of several awards and Kerala Lalithakala Akademi Fellowship 2007, he was a member of the executive committee of Kerala Lalithakala Akademi thrice. His paintings are featured in several private and public collections in India and abroad including, the National Gallery of Modern Art, New Delhi; Parliament House, New Delhi; Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi and Raj Bhavan, Thiruvananthapuram. The Government of Kerala awarded him Raja Ravi Varma Puraskaram for his achievements in the field of visual arts in 2019.

<i>Sagarakanyaka</i> Largest merperson sculpture in the world

Sagarakanyaka is a sculpture of a mermaid situated at the Shankumugham Beach, Kerala. Sculpted by Kanayi Kunhiraman, it is adjudged by the Guinness Book of World Records as the largest merperson sculpture in the world. It has a length of 87 ft and a height of 25 ft. Kunhiraman took two years to complete the sculpture which was finally completed in 1992.

<i>Yakshi</i> (sculpture) Sculpture in Kerala, India

Yakshi is a sculpture in Malampuzha park, Palakkad adjacent to the Malampuzha Dam in the Indian state of Kerala. Sculptored by Kanayi Kunhiraman, its construction was completed in 1969. It is a 30 ft (9.1 m)-tall sculpture inspired by a nude female yakshi, with her legs spread out, breasts lifted, eyes raised to the sky in a semi-drowsy state and fingers running through her hair. The sculpture is constructed in a single piece. Kunhiraman was honoured by Kerala Government in 2019 during the 50th anniversary of the sculpture.

Vijayakumar Menon was an Indian art critic, writer, translator and art teacher from Kerala. He was a winner of several awards including the Kerala Lalithakala Akademi Award for best book on art, Kerala Sahitya Akademi's endowment for scholarly literature, Kesari Puraskaram, and Gurudarsanam Award.

References

  1. 1 2 Manu, Meera (4 February 2013). "High on art". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 16 January 2023.
  2. ↑ "Kerala declares 1st-ever Padma-inspired awards; MT gets highest honour". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
  3. 1 2 "Biography". Web archive. 11 March 2019. Archived from the original on 25 August 2011. Retrieved 11 March 2019.
  4. ↑ "Kanayi Kunhiraman - Veethi profile". veethi.com. 11 March 2019. Retrieved 11 March 2019.
  5. 1 2 "Men-o-pause". Times of India Blog. 17 October 2015. Retrieved 11 March 2019.
  6. 1 2 "Our culture is colossal, so are my sculptures". OnManorama. Retrieved 12 March 2019.
  7. ↑ Sandy (13 February 2018). "Malambuzha's own Yakshi turns 50 this year. Do you know her story?". My Words & Thoughts. Retrieved 11 March 2019.
  8. 1 2 3 "Sculptures of Kanayi Kunhiraman". b3.zcubes.com. Retrieved 12 March 2019.
  9. ↑ "The Jalakanyaka Mermaid statue in Thiruvananthapuram, India". Mermaids of Earth. 11 March 2019. Retrieved 11 March 2019.
  10. ↑ Staff Reporter (29 June 2018). "Of bonds with a trailblazer technocrat". The Hindu. Retrieved 11 March 2019.
  11. ↑ "A visual journey through the life of the master sculptor". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 12 March 2019.
  12. ↑ "Top 10 Magnificent Statues and Sculpture in Kerala". walkthroughindia.com. Retrieved 12 March 2019.
  13. ↑ "Kanai Kunhiraman - Works of Art". 23 September 2011. Archived from the original on 23 September 2011. Retrieved 11 March 2019.
  14. ↑ "AWARDS AND RECOGNITIONS". Athira. Archived from the original on 15 August 2014. Retrieved 23 June 2014.
  15. ↑ "Article about Kanayi Kunhiraman by Fr. Dr. K. M. George". Malankara Orthodox TV. 12 March 2019. Retrieved 12 March 2019.
  16. ↑ Kanayi Kunhiraman (2009). Kānāyi Kuññirāmant̲e kavitakaḷ. Ḍi. Si. Buks. ISBN   978-81-264-2323-1.
  17. ↑ "Kerala News : Raja Ravi Varma award for Kanayi". The Hindu . 30 April 2005. Archived from the original on 13 January 2016. Retrieved 12 March 2019.
  18. ↑ "Raja Ravi Varma Puraskaram - Kerala Lalithakala Akademi". lalithkala.org. 12 March 2019. Retrieved 12 March 2019.
  19. ↑ "Kanai Kunhiraman Awards". 23 September 2011. Archived from the original on 23 September 2011. Retrieved 11 March 2019.
  20. ↑ Govind, Ranjani (4 January 2018). "Sculptor Kanayi Kunhiraman honoured with Nanjunda Rao National Award for Art". The Hindu. Retrieved 12 March 2019.
  21. ↑ Govind, Ranjani (4 July 2017). "Iconic sculptor to receive first ever Nanjunda Rao Award today". The Hindu. Retrieved 12 March 2019.
  22. ↑ Vijayakumār Mēnōn (2008). Kanayi Kunhiraman. New Delhi: Lalit Kala Akademi. ISBN   9788187507345. OCLC   289070886.
  23. ↑ "അബുദാബി ശക്തി അവാര്‍ഡ് സമര്‍പ്പണം വ്യാഴാഴ്ച". ePathram. 18 October 2012. Archived from the original on 7 July 2014. Retrieved 5 January 2023.
  24. ↑ "M T Vasudevan Nair chosen for Kerala's first highest state-level award". Press Trust of India. PTI. Retrieved 1 November 2022.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.