K A Soman

Early life

Soman was born to teacher parents on 5 June 1953 in Ochanthuruth, an island village in Kochi, Kerala, as their fourth son. His father, Sri M.K. Aiyappan, and mother Smt N. Kamalakshi, although belonging to affluent families, had to economise due to the war-torn Indian economy. Soman and his siblings have all had successful professional careers. Soman was very much into the world of creativity from his early childhood. He chose to be self-taught in the field of art to remain uninfluenced by any master.

Soman attended S.S.S. Sabha School, Ochanthuruth and St. Alberts High School, Ernakulam, which was one of the few English medium schools in the area at that time. He next attended the Sainik School, Kazhakoottam, where he had the creative guidance of art teacher Sri Bhaskar Rao. The basic concept of light and shade was imparted by his eldest brother, Sugathan.

Soman graduated from Maharajas College, Ernakulam, with a degree in zoology. He was part of the student movement and the art and culture scene of the college. He played an active role in the cultural activities of the college such as music and fine arts exhibitions, and won prizes. He did many drawings and paintings, and began painting on canvas in 1971. He was a regular participant in group painting exhibitions in Kerala.

After graduation, he joined the Law College, Ernakulam, where he was involved in the student and trade union movements. He was on the State Committee of the All India Students Federation for three consecutive years. He represented the law college at university festivals and several inter-collegiate painting competitions and won prizes including the Kerala University Youth Festival Prize, Stallions International Award, Kerala Students Union Award, and others. He has been a regular participant in Group Exhibitions organised by Lalitha Kala Akademi since 1974, and has won an Academy Award for his work The Revolution.

His earlier creations include the pieces Defloration, The Ruin of Hitler, The Revolution, S.G. Bila, the Comet, and Schizophrenic Blue Man.

Nostalgia segment (1970s–1980s)

Untitled (1982–1986)

The artist gives vent to subdued human emotions using different patterns of application using strokes and splashes of monochromatic brown shades of raw umber.

My Fever Thoughts (2000)

The plight of humans caught in the grip of suffering and disease are given expression in a figurative yellow tone.

Tsunami Series (January 2005)

The killer waves triggered by the 2004 tsunami dealt untold miseries to nature and its flora and fauna. Somji gave figurative expression to a few episodes using charcoal on handmade paper.

Summer Rains Series (2008)

Somji's solo exhibition at Durbar Hall Art Gallery, Ernakulam in April and May 2008 had its main theme titled "Summer Rains". It was dedicated to the memory of Jackson Pollock, the master of action painting. The show was a great success.

Unscripted Dreams Series (2008)

The artist uses the concept of unscripted dreams to give expression to the intricacies of human relations and subtle feelings.

Celebrity Syndrome Series (2008)

Celebrities are not born; they are the products of human incarnation. Essentially,they are just like any other human being. Somji explores this theme in a style of Abstract expressionism. "Celebrity Syndrome" was the subject of a solo exhibition at Kerala Lalithakala Akademi Art Gallery, Kozhikode in June 2008.

Extinction...and Beyond...Series (2008)

Somji's series "Extinction...and Beyond..." is a visual depiction of his deep concern over the ever deteriorating ecosystem and environment, ranging from global warming to the extinction of flora and fauna. The work was featured at his solo exhibition at Karnataka Chitrakala Parishat Art Centre, Bangalore in October 2008.

"Our Concerns over Time and Space"- 2009)

This series premiered at the artist's solo exhibition held at Regional Lalitkala Akademi Art Gallery,Chennai in April 2009.

Solo exhibitions with the same title were on display in August 2009 at Kerala Lalitha kala Akademi Art Gallery, Durbar Hall Art Centre, Cochin; at Kerala Lalithakala Akademi Art Gallery, Thrissur, in December 2009; at Vyloppilly Samskrithi Bhavan Art Gallery, Thiruvananthapuram, in April 2010; at Jehangir Art Gallery, Mumbai in Sept. 2010; at Kala Academy Art Gallery, Panaji, Goa in Jan 2011 and at Karnataka Chitrakala Parishath, in Oct 2013.

Specialities

The works explore human feelings and emotions in a subtle way, retaining the imagery of the sensuous world around us. They have been executed in a variety of styles, with unique strokes and splashes of colour in a unique style.

Experimentation with every aspect of oil painting has been Somji's zest throughout his career. His style has transitioned from realism to abstract expressionism through surrealism, impressionism, cubism and expressionism.

Controversies

His works evoked controversy as early as 1977 when he painted S.G. Bila, the Comet. Many of his works from the recent "Celebrity Syndrome" Series have become controversial for their candid exposition of the myths behind high profile celebrities.

Somji's award winning works titled The Ruin of Hitler (1974) and The Revolution (1975) have been the subjects of heated debates.

Major art exhibitions

Major awards

•ArtSlant World wide Award 2012 in Abstract Category for the painting 'OUR CONCERNS OVER TIME AND SPACE – No.31’