Noted artists come together in exhibition dedicated to Nandagopal

CHENNAI: Close to 20 renowned artists from the city have come together to celebrate the late artist and sculptor S Nandagopal. The exhibition titled ‘Singularly South’ organised by Artworld, celebrates the unique language of modernism represented by well-known artists such as A V Ilango, Alphonso Arul Doss, M Senathipathi, RM Palaniappan and Thota Tharani.


“The artists participating in the show are some of the most senior in the country, and many of them are featuring their new work,” says Sarala Banerjee, owner, Artworld.

Nandagopal died in April 2017 following a heart attack. Son of legendary artist KCS Paniker and a guardian of the Madras Art Movement, Nandagopal strove to preserve and flourish the Cholamandal Artists’ Village founded by his father. He was a painter and a sculptor par excellence whose work has been recognised nationally and internationally. He won the Lalit Kala Akademi Award and received the Homi Bhaba Fellowship and the British Council travel grant. He has also been featured in Oxford University Press publications.

“After the passing of his father, Nandagopal was at the forefront to develop the Cholamandal Artists’ Village. Even as a young man, he worked hard to help the artist community here by getting sponsors and funds to expand the gallery and the museum,” says M Senathipathi, whose works at this show revolve around human emotions.

Remembering Nandagopal as one of the country’s most significant artistic influences, R M Palaniappan recalled how he, along with artists K Muralidharan and C Douglas, were planning to do a group show with the late artist, before which he passed away. “Muralidharan, Douglas and I had done two major shows in recent years and we were eagerly hoping to do our next group show with Nandagopal, which never materialised. That’s why, this show comes as a fitting dedication,” he says. “Nandagopal’s metal works and his way of using enamel colours on his sculptures was something I loved,” he says.

“It’s quite extraordinary to see so many of the artists who were nurtured under the great Banyan Tree at Cholamandal coming together to celebrate one of the founder members of the Artists’ Village. That it is happening at Artworld is also significant. Both the Cholamandal Artists’ Village and the gallery started by the Daruwalas came into being at a time when no one in Madras believed in modern art,” says art critic Geeta Doctor.

The exhibition is on till October 27, at Artworld, Teynampet.

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