- K.G. Subramanyan (1924–2016) is a towering figure in modern Indian art.
- Seagull Books published his Five collections of essays addressing themes of tradition, cultural identity, and the role of art in society. It constitutes a total of 19 essays including the title essays:
- Theory Text Context
- The Local and the Global
- A Matter of Perspective
- The Concept of Tradition
- Discovering Each Other
- Subramanyan critically examines themes such as global versus local art, the perception of tradition as backward, and the survival of craftsmanship in an industrial world.
- Subramanyan suggests culture is a dynamic interaction between individuals, society, and the environment, rooted in tradition but evolving with modern innovations.
- He emphasises that true cultural expression should balance heritage with contemporary progress, aiming to create a “culture-intent society.”
- Highlighting the undervaluation of “serious art,” he contrasts the popularity of mainstream cinema and literature with the often-overlooked regional and folk art, which embodies artistic value through self-taught village artisans.
- He presents examples from rural India, where traditional wall and floor art demonstrates a raw, untrained mastery, which urbanization threatens to erode.
- Subramanyan critiques the commodification of culture in modern festivals, which he argues reduces traditions to public entertainment rather than authentic cultural expression.
- He emphasizes the need to protect Indian art and artisans as part of cultural preservation amidst rapid progress, seeing this as a safeguard for India’s heritage.
- His satire on democracy in “The Tale of the Talking Face” (originally published in 1998) or his understanding of the human condition in “When God First Made Animals” and “He Made Them All Alike” (1985) is proof of his sensibilities.
- The contents of the essays show that K.G. was well-versed in the nuances of economics, polity, religion, education systems, and much more
Dig Deeper: Read about Abanindranath Tagore, Coomaraswamy and Nandalal Bose in the context of Indian Art and Culture.
