AP Santhanaraj, born in 1932 in Tamil Nadu, is celebrated as one of the foremost figures in Indian art. His oeuvre is renowned for the unique quality of line that defines his distinct artistic style. Merging the spontaneity of emotional intensity with the precision of technique, Santhanaraj’s work intertwines rhythmic abstraction with classical Indian art elements. His artistic practice was deeply rooted in the exploration of line and color, creating a distinctive visual language.
Santhanaraj earned his Diploma in Painting from the Government School of Arts & Crafts (Madras) in 1953, and he dedicated much of his professional life to this institution, eventually retiring in 1990 as its Principal. His creative process was characterized by a preference for the substance of thought over mere mechanical application. This approach is evident in his unconventional painting methods—he would place random pieces of paper on the canvas, moving them around while intermittently rotating and inspecting the canvas from various angles. This method reflects his uninhibited thought process and innovative approach to painting.
Santhanaraj was also a skilled portrait artist, with notable works including portrait sculptures of prominent figures such as Birla at the sky theatre of the planetarium and Karumuthu Thiagarajan Chettiar at the bank of Madura. His expertise extended to frescoes, having been commissioned for works at the Lok Sabha and the Madras High Court.
His artworks are represented in several esteemed public collections, including the National Gallery of Modern Art, New Delhi. In 2011, Focus Art Gallery in Chennai held a posthumous exhibition titled ‘The Indigenous Line: Works of AP Santhanaraj,’ celebrating his significant contributions to art.
AP Santhanaraj passed away in Chitlapakkam, near Tambaram, in May 2009, leaving behind a legacy marked by his distinctive approach to line, color, and form.