KCS Panicker Art Gallery
KCS Paniker, born in 1911, was Kerala’s renowned painter known for his metaphysical and abstract paintings. He was a versatile painter who was nominated as one of the nine eminent Artists of the country by the Government of India. He was instrumental in setting up the Progressive Painters Association in Madras from 1944 to 1953. As an artist who set a new trend, the KCS Paniker Gallery traces his works. An impressive collection of about 75 paintings and four bronzes housed in the Gallery shows the constant creativity of the artist which cover a period of 40 years. This museum gallery was established in 1979 in the memory of K.C.S. Paniker (1911 - 1977).
Paintings belonging to one of the best works of the artist, 'Words and Symbols' which was internationally acclaimed are also displayed inside the gallery. His creations on display induce tremendous amount of inquisitiveness in the mind of visitors who venture into their interpretation.
The renovated gallery was reopened on 17 th December 2012 by M K Narayanan, West Bengal Governor. K N Vasudevan Namboodiri, Kanayi Kunhiraman, Kattoor Narayana Pillai, Akitham Narayanan and Paris Viswanathan who were students of Panicker also attended the event. Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, Minister P K Jayalakshmi and filmmaker Adoor Gopalakrishnan were also present.
KCS Panicker
K. C. S. Paniker was one of the acclaimed painters in India who was instrumental in setting up the Progressive Painters Association in Madras from 1944 to 1953. In 1976, he was awarded the highest award of the Lalit Kala Academy, India's National Academy of Art and the Fellow of the Lalit Kala Academy for lifetime contribution. He became the Principal of the Government College of Fine Arts, Chennai, in 1957, and in 1966 formed the Cholamandal Artists' Village, 9 km from Chennai, along with his students and a few fellow artists. KCS Panicker is considered as one among the leading figures in Madras Art Movement.
