C. K. Ra
Encyclopedia
C. K. Ramakrishnan Nair popularly known as C.K. Ra, was an Indian painter
, writer, and teacher of fine arts. An advocate of creative freedom, Ramakrishnan Nair was credited with bringing modernism in Kerala painting and heralded the 'Ra phase' in Kerala painting. He served as the Superintendent of the Trivandrum School of Arts
and later became the chairman of Kerala Lalita Kala Akademi.
. After completion of his studies in Mavelikkara
, C. K. Ra went to Bombay to work with the British Information Department. During his stint at Bombay, he created a series of paintings about the torments of the Second World War, including Peace after War, Prelude to Revenge, and Massacre. When the war was over he left Bombay and took to teaching, first at a school in Coimbatore
and later at the Ravi Varma School of Painting, Mavelikara. C.K. Ra had a brief period of training in Santiniketan
and became a disciple of Jamini Roy
and Nandalal Bose
. When he returned to Kerala to work at the College of Fine Arts Trivandrum
it was the beginning of the 'Ra phase' in Kerala painting. Some of the memorable paintings of this period were Temple Fantasia, Washing Hair, and Delightful Pain work that aspire to transcend the practiced responses to color form and meaning. Among C.K. Ra's contemporaries who were based in Trivandrum include, his disciple Chirayinkil Sreekantan Nair, G. Rajendran and B.D. Dathan, all of whom were the former students of the Trivandrum School of Arts and the self-taught painter and novelist Malayattoor Ramakrishnan
. C.K. Ra also wrote on modernism in paintings.
Painting
Painting is the practice of applying paint, pigment, color or other medium to a surface . The application of the medium is commonly applied to the base with a brush but other objects can be used. In art, the term painting describes both the act and the result of the action. However, painting is...
, writer, and teacher of fine arts. An advocate of creative freedom, Ramakrishnan Nair was credited with bringing modernism in Kerala painting and heralded the 'Ra phase' in Kerala painting. He served as the Superintendent of the Trivandrum School of Arts
College of Fine Arts Trivandrum
The College of Fine Arts Trivandrum is a fine arts college located in Kerala, India.-History:The college was founded in 1888 by Moolam Thirunal Sir Rama Varma, the then Maharaja for the state of Travancore. The college was first known as H. H...
and later became the chairman of Kerala Lalita Kala Akademi.
Biography
C. K. Ra was born in Thiruvalla to K. Ramavarma Koithampuran of Paliakara Kottaram and Sankaravelil Kunjukuttiyamma. He had his initial training at Ravi Varma School of Painting, Mavelikara under Rama Varma, the younger son of Raja Ravi VarmaRaja Ravi Varma
Raja Ravi Varma was an Indian painter from the princely state of Travancore who achieved recognition for his depiction of scenes from the epics of the Mahabharata and Ramayana...
. After completion of his studies in Mavelikkara
Mavelikkara
Mavelikara is a town in Alappuzha district of Kerala, India, spread over an area of 12.65 km2. It is in the southern part of Alappuzha district on the banks of the Achankovil River. Mavelikara is located 8km east of National Highway. Mavelikara is known as the capital of...
, C. K. Ra went to Bombay to work with the British Information Department. During his stint at Bombay, he created a series of paintings about the torments of the Second World War, including Peace after War, Prelude to Revenge, and Massacre. When the war was over he left Bombay and took to teaching, first at a school in Coimbatore
Coimbatore
Coimbatore , also known as Kovai , is the second largest city in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is a major commercial centre in Tamil Nadu and is known as the "Manchester of South India"....
and later at the Ravi Varma School of Painting, Mavelikara. C.K. Ra had a brief period of training in Santiniketan
Santiniketan
Santiniketan is a small town near Bolpur in the Birbhum district of West Bengal, India, approximately 180 kilometres north of Kolkata . It was made famous by Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore, whose vision became what is now a university town that attracts thousands of visitors each year...
and became a disciple of Jamini Roy
Jamini Roy
-Early life:Jamini Roy was born in 1887 into a middle-class family of land-owners in a village called Beliatore in the District of Bankura in Bengal .When he was sixteen he was sent to study at the Government School of Art in Calcutta...
and Nandalal Bose
Nandalal Bose
Nandalal Bose was a notable Indian painter of Bengal school of art. A pupil of Abanindranath Tagore, Bose was known for "Indian style" of painting. He became the principal of Kala Bhawan, Shanti Niketan in 1922...
. When he returned to Kerala to work at the College of Fine Arts Trivandrum
College of Fine Arts Trivandrum
The College of Fine Arts Trivandrum is a fine arts college located in Kerala, India.-History:The college was founded in 1888 by Moolam Thirunal Sir Rama Varma, the then Maharaja for the state of Travancore. The college was first known as H. H...
it was the beginning of the 'Ra phase' in Kerala painting. Some of the memorable paintings of this period were Temple Fantasia, Washing Hair, and Delightful Pain work that aspire to transcend the practiced responses to color form and meaning. Among C.K. Ra's contemporaries who were based in Trivandrum include, his disciple Chirayinkil Sreekantan Nair, G. Rajendran and B.D. Dathan, all of whom were the former students of the Trivandrum School of Arts and the self-taught painter and novelist Malayattoor Ramakrishnan
Malayattoor Ramakrishnan
Malayattoor Ramakrishnan was a prominent Malayali novelist of the 20th century from Kerala state, South India. He is credited with having authored several important works in Malayalam literature, including novels, short stories and biographical sketches...
. C.K. Ra also wrote on modernism in paintings.