The sudden demise of Achuthan Kudallur in July 2022 sent ripples through the art community, leaving his dual home studios as silent witnesses to his vibrant legacy. Now, through a poignant retrospective exhibition at the esteemed Lalit Kala Akademi in Chennai, art enthusiasts and collectors get a glimpse into the profound journey of a man who was instrumental in shaping the course of Indian abstract art.
Ashvita Gallery has masterfully curated “Achuthan Kudallur: A Life in Art,” showcasing approximately 40 pivotal pieces that span the breadth of Achuthan’s artistic explorations. This diverse collection exemplifies why Achuthan remains an influential presence in the sphere of contemporary art, well after his passing.
Born in the verdant locale of Kudallur village in Palghat, Kerala, Achuthan’s work resonates with the cheerful recollections of his youth. As a child, he frequently bathed in the Bharathapuzha and Kunthipuzha rivers adjacent to his home. These fond memories translate into the dominant greens and blues of his early canvases. However, the exhibition also illuminates the evolution of his style and palette, revealing a mature artist who continuously reinvented his language of expression.
Curator Ashvin Rajagopalan reflects on the enormity of the artist’s output: “He was a prolific artist, and he has left a few hundred canvases.” Rajagopalan delved deeply into the transformation of Achuthan’s art from the 1970s to his demise. From figurative work and oil on canvas to ink on paper drawings, Achuthan’s art saw multiple metamorphoses. By the late ’80s, his compositions became ever more expansive, as evident in the diptychs and large format paintings now on view.
These pieces, once rolled and stored in the artist’s studios, have found their corresponding halves, thanks to the meticulous organization of the retrospective. Rajagopalan expresses the magnitude of the task: “It was literally forensic.” The curator speaks of the herculean efforts to marry the art across both studios, correlating each time period to its rightful creations.
The process was daunting but rewarding—an incredible marathon session, as Rajagopalan calls it. Once the exhibition’s organizers acquired the paintings, a team of conservators arrived from Mumbai to Chennai, their mission to restore the art to its original glory. This involved extensive cleaning, re-stretching, and reframing of Achuthan’s oeuvre—a testament to the dedication and respect he commands even in his absence.
A portion of this collection will be entrusted to the Ashvita archives, preserving those pieces with unique narratives. Plans are also in the works to establish an Achuthan Kudallur archive, comprehensively encapsulating the intertwining of his work with the historical tapestry of the Madras Art Movement.
The more monumental and rare works from the 1970s and 1980s will be earmarked for institutional buyers, given their need for professional conservation. Meanwhile, artworks predominantly from the 1990s onward will be available for acquisition, priced discerningly between ₹5 and ₹25 lakh, reflective of his current standing in the art market.
Despite his inclination for solitude and his circle of treasured friends, Achuthan’s passion for the arts never wavered. While he harbored aspirations to write, his home bore the vibrancy of his relentless artistic pursuits—each room a testament to his indelible impact on the world of abstract art.
Achuthan Kudallur’s larger-than-life works are open for public admiration at the Lalit Kala Akademi, against the backdrop of the bustling Greams Road in Egmore, Chennai. The exhibition, “Achuthan Kudallur: A Life in Art,” invites visitors until February 9, from 11 am to 7 pm daily—an opportunity for art admirers and collectors alike to immerse themselves in the creative genius of a true visionary.
This is not merely a display of art; it is the unfolding of a vibrant narrative, a homage to a prodigious talent whose brushstrokes continue to echo across the halls of Indian artistry.
