K A SOMAN

Introduction

K.A.Soman (born in 1953), popularly known as Somji in Art circle, is one of the renowned artists of Kerala. According to certain noted critics, he has been called the "Jackson Pollock of India" but Somji denies its flattery with humility.Drawing and Painting had been an enduring passion since his childhood and undoubtedly he deserves to be a born Artist.He chose to remain a self-taught painter and remembers having refused to be trained by any master as a daring measure to avoid being patently influenced by him.He has been into the field of Oil Painting since 1971 and has been part of Group Exhibitions as a student in Maharaja's College, Ernakulam and Law College, Ernakulam and has to his credit several Awards and recognitions.

After a long, successful career in Government service which he left as Deputy Commissioner,he has now turned to be a total Painter, holding Solo Exhibitions regularly.He had also conducted One Man Shows in the thick of his official pre-occupations while in Govt.Service.

His Early Days

K.A.Soman(Somji) was born to teacher parents on 5th June 1953 in Ochanthuruth, an Island village in Kochi as their fourth son.His father Sri.M.K. Aiyappan and mother Smt. N.Kamalakshi, although belonged to affluent ancestral families,the War-torn Indian economy in general, forced them to live on shoe string, with their five children. Soman and his siblings occupied fairly high positions in their career following the foot-prints of their motivating parents. Soman was very much into the world of creativity from his early childhood and he chose to be self-taught in the field of Art with a determination to remain uninfluenced by his prospective master.

He had his primary education in S.S.S.Sabha School,Ochanthuruth and then he joined St.Alberts High School, Ernakulam, which stood out as one of the few English medium Schools of eminence in the middle of 1960s.After a brief spell there,he moved on to the prestigious Sainik School, Kazhakoottam,where he had the creative guidance of Sri.Bhaskar Rao, the Art teacher.Even earlier, the basic concept of 'Light and Shade'was imparted by his eldest brother, Sugathan.

Soman joined Maharaja's College, Ernakulam for his graduation in Zoology.The serene, but enthusing ambiance of this illustrious temple of learning had been the source of immense inspiration for his booming creativity.He had been part of Student Movement, more particularly,the Art and Culture scene of the College.He did all sorts of Drawing and Painting. The year 1971 witnessed his initiation into Painting on canvas.He played active role in the multifarious cultural activities such as Music and Fine Arts and won prizes.He was a regular participant in Group Painting Exhibitions in Kerala.

After graduation,he joined Law College, Ernakulam,where he remembers having been involved more intensely with Student and Trade Union Movements.He had been on the State Committee of All India Students Federation for three consecutive years. Painting turned out to be a much more serious vocation in his career.He represented Law College in University Festivals and several other Inter-collegiate competitions and won prizes including Kerala University Festival Prize, Stallions International Award, Kerala Students Union Award and so on.He has been a regular participant in Group Exhibitions organized by Lalitha Kala Akademi since 1974 and has won Academy Award for his work 'The Revolution'.

Controversies

His works had evoked controversy as early as in 1977 when he painted "S.G.Bila,the Comet".Many of his works coming under the recent Series "Celebrity Syndrome" have also become controversial,for their candid exposition of the intriguing myths behind the high profile celebrities.Somji's Award winning works titled "The Ruin Of Hitler" done in the year 1974 and "The Revolution" done in 1975 had been the subjects of heated debates.

Celebrity Syndrome No.3, unravelling the mystery behind the old age perversions of an Indian celebrity Artist is a smashing example.

Major Art Series

NOSTALGIA (1970s-80s)

THE RUIN OF HITLER (1974)

Done in Oil paint, The prominent features of Hitler have been depicted in an Impressionist style.The 'Swastik',his relentless greed for power,fame, lust..get unveiled in the dusky backdrop when the sun drooped itself in sheer darkness.His end came as suicide which has been captured by way of a broken arrow killing himself... All an ensemble of Nazi brutality and its ultimate fall. This work has won Stallions International Award(1st Prize) in 1974

The Revolution-(1975)

This is a recreated version of Somji's earlier work in water colour titled "Viplavom Sathwa Rajassukaliloode" which he did participating in the erstwhile Kerala University Youth Festival painting competition in 1975 and winning 2nd prize. The painting is significant with its Mythological content, captured by highlighting the imagery of Lord Maha Vishnu and Lord Brahma. The artist gives ex-pression to his interpretation that the mythological belief pointing to the loss of Lord Brahma's one of five heads was attributable to a revolution,that became ripe through the wisdom imparted by Lordess Saraswathy. The work has won Lalitha Kala Academy Award.

S.G.Bila, The Comet (1977)

'Bila' is the name of a Comet that has gone into history by being perished(exploded) while getting dangerously near to the sun.Then what does 'S.G.' signify? Any clue? This was painted in early 1977 during the turbulent period of Emergency and happened to be eventually controversial for quite a long time.Later on many a viewer exclaimed: "What a prediction!".

The work was done with oil paint and wood on specially treated hard board in the year 1977.Like many other 'Nostalgia'paintings, this one is also not meant for sale in view of its immense historical value.

The Topsy turvy (1980)

Man's absurdity behind his inextricable helplessness in living life at the behest of someone other than him in a world where things appear to turn upside down finds shapes and forms in surrealistic style.

Untitled (1982/86)

The Artist gives vent to the subdued human emotions in a different pattern of application of colors using strokes and splashes of monochrome of Brown shades in Raw umber.

My Fever Thoughts (2000)

The plightful but sensuous human surroundings caught in the inescapable grip of suffering and disease are given expression in a figurative yellow tone permeating into an unavoidable fantasy.

Tsunami Series (Jan.2005)

The ferocious killer waves triggered by the Tsunami dealt untold miseries to the nature and its Flora and Fauna. Somji gave figurative expression of a few episodes in Charcoal on Handmade paper.

Summer Rains Series (2008)

"When the Summer rains lashed on our terrains with unprecedented fury, the scorching sun stood in shocked amazement; but the downpour came as a calming relief to the entire flora and fauna.The sober feelings and intriguing thoughts have been given ex-pression in a subtle way retaining the crude imagery of the sensuous space around us."

Unscripted Dreams Series (2008)

Dream is the finest expression of thought.When it is unscripted its spectrum turns out to be limitless.The artist gives expression to the intricacies of human relations and the subtle feelings with their implicit, but delicate nuances in his own unique style.

Celebrity Syndrome Series (2008)

Celebrities are not born;they are the products of human incarnation. Essentially,they are just like any other human beings;be it about love,lust,the stinking hypocrisy,or any thing for that matter.Somji makes figurative exposition in a style of Abstract expressionism.

Specialities

All the series are testimony to his outstanding creativity,giving expression to the nuances of human feelings and emotions in an exceptionally subtle way, at the same time retaining the crude imagery of the sensuous space around us.They have been executed in a variety of style with the unique strokes and splashes of colours very much peculiar to Artist Somji and as such his vivid style of picturisation stands out as his own.

The entangled lines and contours of colours go into raptures;but they hesitate to dwell in ravishing exuberance. Instead, they find ubiquitous harmony of intrinsic sensibilities by the application of colours in entrancing sobriety.The lurking beauty in between and beyond the lines and colours is self revealing to those with discerning vision and they in turn come to realise the more inscrutable truths and crude realities that lie interwoven beneath the nebulous shades of the obscure imagery.

Experimentation with every perceivable aspect of Oil painting has been Somji's zest all along his career.The evolution that has happened in his style is remarkably amazing.The transition from Realism to Abstract Expressionism through the various stages of surrealism, Impressionism, Cubism and Expressionism is indeed an intellectual experience rather than a marvel of visual treat.His experimentation with the medium of painting has been startling. Apart from the usual ones viz.Oil,Acrylic etc. Somji uses a special paint which is superior in quality,incredibly unique in texture, nontoxic,fungus-resistant,more eco-friendly,elastic, non-brittle and much more durable than any other paint.Most of his works since 'Summer Rains' Series have the rare splendor of this Rubberized paint either solely or in combination with other paints.

Further information about him and his work is available in his web site [http://www.artistsomji.com Artist Somji]

References :

[http://www.thehindu.com/mp/2008/04/28/stories/2008042850610300.htm Calming shades of summer rains - The Hindu]

[http://www.hindu.com/2008/06/25/stories/2008062550770200.htm When paint charts its course The Hindu]