JAYAPAL PANIKER

K. Jayapal Panicker was a prominent Indian artist born in Quilon, Kerala, India in 1938. He studied at the Government School of Arts and Crafts, Madras, and was part of the first batch of artists who moved to the city. During his studies in Madras, he was drawn to the philosophy of Shankara. The fascination with beauty greatly influenced Panicker’s artistic talent. His early works were in watercolour and oil.

The early Archaic Memory paintings exude an air of antiquity. The Bijagni-Jivagni series is a flawless retelling of abstract dreams. Panicker’s ability to conjure up myths in a Tantric manner and give them visual permanence is remarkable. He has created many paintings in the holographic technique. Panicker has used tempera, acrylic and ink more than oil paints. Geometric shapes, cells, color accumulations, general transparency and a ‘space within the space’ nature are the characteristics of Jayapalapanikar’s paintings.

Jayapalapanikkar has received awards from the Madras Lalit Kala Academy (1965), Hyderabad Arts Society (1965), Kerala Lalit Kala Academy (1974, 1983, 1989) and Calcutta Fine Arts Academy (1967, 68). In 1989, he received the Central Lalit Kala Academy Award and a Central Government Fellowship.