Swaminathan`s art subtly evades definition. Inspired by the overt simplicity of tribal art and the simulated child-like innocence of Paul Klee`s canvases, his elemental structures are nonetheless entirely his own. In this 1983 work, the vivid hues vibrate against each other creating unexpected resonances and the highly stylized, somewhat geometric, delineation of the bird, sun and hill merely hints at a representation of the...
Swaminathan`s art subtly evades definition. Inspired by the overt simplicity of tribal art and the simulated child-like innocence of Paul Klee`s canvases, his elemental structures are nonetheless entirely his own. In this 1983 work, the vivid hues vibrate against each other creating unexpected resonances and the highly stylized, somewhat geometric, delineation of the bird, sun and hill merely hints at a representation of the natural world. In fact, the work is not concerned with the portrayal of phenomenal reality. "He managed to dissociate common phenomena from its natural associations and lodge it as it were, in a universe of mystery and wonder, creating images which are about to reveal themselves but never quite do so." (p. 2, Krishen Khanna, J. Swaminathan, Contemporary Indian Art Series, Lalit Kala Akademi, 1995)