Lanterna Rally

Author: Selin George

Publisher: Kalaimaiyam UK

Published: 2017-11-01

Total Pages: 62

ISBN-13: 1912506009

This book is a well researched collection of the Indian Contemporary Artist and Art Maestro Dr.K.M.Gopal and his contribution to Indian Art. This volume includes several rare photographs, collected from Museums, Libraries, Artists and other individuals both in India and overseas. K.M.Gopal is a prodigy of Madras School of Arts and Crafts (Now, Government College of Fine Arts, Chennai), under the renowned sculptor Debi Prasad Roy Choudhury MBE (1899–1975). K.M.Gopal's extended research of Gaanaapathiyam (aka Ganapathiyam) has produced numerous forms of Ganapthi, the remover of obstacles. Inspired from the female form of Ganapathi (Ganeshwari), K.M.Gopal has produced the first known "Ardha Ganeshwari" in metal relief, which is a combined form of half male and half female forms of Ganapathi in one figure. In addition, K.M.Gopal has explored the deep interconnection of Yoga and Ganapathi, and discovered how Ganapathi is symbolically abstracting the first symbol of Yoga. His creation of the first 32 forms of Ganapathi and how they are related to the 32 stages of preparing the body towards spirituality in Yoga has got wide attention among the scholars, and researchers. Tirumalai Krishnamacharya and Purushottama Bilimoria are to name a few. The book also discuss about the true history of "Madras Art Movement" and how Artists' Handicrafts Association in Madras was formed, and how few artists in Cholamandal Artists' Village are manipulating the written history of Madras Art Movement, and how they air brushed eminent artists like Kanniappan, S.Dhanapal, Adimoolam and S.P.Jeyakar. This book also provide a glimpse of Kalaimaiyam UK, an art hub founded by K.M.Gopal in 1980s, and its vision of service in the UK.