Born in 1941, in Karnataka, India, SG Vasudev received recognition for his work, early on in his career. He has been deeply influenced by Artist-Teacher K.C.S. Paniker while he was pursuing his Fine Arts at Government College of Art and Craft Madras. His work is deeply informed by life and its many manifestations. The deep philosphical sensibilities of Paniker, music, film, poetry, set design, book design, have informed the range of his practice. His practice delves isnto the realm of Indian mythology and spirituality, intertwining contemporary ideas with ancient narratives.
His artistic sensibilities are well informed by the range of mediums he has worked with. The importance of being part of a vibrant artistic community that Cholamandal (which he is a founder member of) used to be in the 60s cannot be emphasized enough. It was a meeting place for artists, dramatists, dancers, drop-outs, poets, photographers, architects, anarchists and thinkers. Some of them have remained lifelong friends and partners in Vasudev's artistic journey. Whether it was designing a set for a film, like Samskara, or Vamsa Vriksha, or much later the masks for a production of Hayavadana, written by Girish Karnad, or a series of line drawings inspired by the poems of A.K. Ramanujan, Vasudev's links with the intellectual world, outside that of painting, or the visual arts, has remained a constant source of inspiration.
These interactions facilitated at Cholamandal opened his conceptual sensibilities that informed his series such as Vriksha, Mithuna, Hayavadana, Humanscapes, Earthscapes, Theatre of Life. One of his most significant contributions to the artistic language is how in his compositions he integrates the linear impulse of the south indian style with both lyricism and colour, framed by simple geometrical shapes. The collaborative nature of his practice of tapestries and copper relief’s, film sets, book design, enables the sharing of ideas with diverse creative minds, which has enriched the way he approaches his work.
Over a career spanning six decades, S.G. Vasudev’s works have been showcased at various exhibitions and venues of national and international significance. The range of his practice has pushed his contributions to various creative pursuits and has been a recipient of many awards and accolades. He has been a member of the executive board of Lalitkala, and most recently a retrospective of his work was held at the NGMA Bangalore. It was curated by Sadanand Menon.
Government college of Fine Arts, Chennai.
