A.P. SANTHANARAJ  (1932 - 2009)

Love-making is a governing artistic interest of Santhanaraj. Often as in here, this is because intertwined bodies create angles, shapes, negative space and formal relationships that intrigue the artist.

Achieved in felt tip pen, this is a stunning example of Santhanaraj's use of abstract shapes to evolve a figure from the light space of the paper. The artist saw this emergence (that would take him by surprise often) as nothing less than the hand of God.

Kodimaram' literally means "flag pole." In a temple, this is placed between the Rajagopuram and the Sanctum sanctorum. It is made of wood, cladded with brass and with or without gold coating. In this stunning oil pastel painting, the pole stands central in the work shedding light outward amongst the un-temple-like structures. Figures move toward the light in the foreground.

Love-making is a governing artistic interest of Santhanaraj. Often as in here, this is because intertwined bodies create angles, shapes, negative space and formal relationships that intrigue the artist. Here the artist depicts a King and his courtesan or queen in the throes of rapture.

An enigmatic work by Santhanarj for many reasons. One can almost see the technique in this work, the duration of time taken to create, in the way that the woman emerges from these abstract forms placed randomly on the paper. A parrot sits on one of these shapes as if it is a three-dimensional object, its foot dangling over the edge.

This stunning large canvas is in essence an abstraction of The Holy Communion. We see a table emerge from Santhanaraj's curious methodology of pre-painting. Upon it the circle of the Eucharist, a goblet of wine and perhaps a cloth folded to aside. Lines and arrows here are as much part of the abstract process as symbols of the power of the ceremony.

This early piece shows the artist at his very best creating contorted (but accurate) figural form from abstract shapes. I enjoy the dots used by the artist to represent necklaces and other ornamentation

One of the true treasures of the collection, this drawing is a stunning example of Santhanaraj, the teacher. This work must be part of a teaching session where this is the third stage of abstraction where lines are slowly giving way to a figurative finish. Previous drawings in this series would have been more 'absract in attempt' as the artist writes next to the drawing.

A mysterious profile of woman, her face in shadow and her head covered by a shawl or hood.

Here lines inform the viewer of the embracing couple more than the abstract shapes that float sparingly around the image. As we follow lines, two major areas are highlighted: the circle of embrace in which the arms are the lower section and the heads touching are the upper section; and second, the lower body that forms the second area, the legs on either side of the composition creating harmony and unity.

A rare work on paper in colour in the collection by the late A.P. Santhanaraj.

Here two women are in conversation, one nude and the other clothed. Lines possibly imply the nature of the dialogue: lyrical, constantly tangential and excited.