A.P Santhanaraj

 Santhanaraj (1932-2009) is regarded as a pivotal figure in the second wave of artists emerging from the Madras College of Arts and Craft, following the influential footsteps of K.C.S. Paniker and S. Dhanapal. He developed a distinctive artistic style focused on exploring the complexities of pictorial space through an abstract engagement with figurative subject matter. From his student days, Santhanaraj approached the canvas with passion, aggression, and enthusiasm, a trait that students fondly recall, noting how effortlessly colour, line, and form flowed from him regardless of the emotional stimulus.

A central element of his work was his profound love for line: its ability to meander through pictorial space, define and divide it, shape and destroy forms, and both aid and inhibit light and colour. His spontaneous, free-flowing lines often inspired his colour palette and allowed archetypes, particularly the buxom female heroine, to emerge from his subconscious through the jagged lines and the spatial areas they displaced.

Santhanaraj consistently experimented with the concept of abstraction first, allowing unconscious figuration to emerge from this process. His creative method involved placing random pieces of paper on the canvas and moving them around the pictorial space while intermittently rotating the canvas and inspecting it from all angles. This methodology mirrors the approach of Jackson Pollock, who, in his abstraction, would circle the canvas on the floor like a panther stalking its prey.

Santhanaraj's innovative techniques and passionate approach to art have cemented his legacy as a significant influence in South Indian contemporary art, inspiring future generations of artists.