K.S. KULKARNI (INDIA, 1916–1994) CHARCOL ON PAPER ABSTRACT FIGURAL COMPOSITION

THIS CHARCOAL DRAWING BY K.S. KULKARNI (INDIA, 1916–1994) PRESENTS A STYLISED ABSTRACT FIGURAL COMPOSITION, IN WHICH HUMAN FORMS ARE REDUCED TO ESSENTIAL GEOMETRIC SHAPES AND SYMBOLIC FEATURES. THE FIGURES ARE ARRANGED IN A STRUCTURED, ARCHITECTURAL FRAMEWORK, SUGGESTING A SYNTHESIS OF FIGURATION AND CONSTRUCTED SPACE, A RECURRING CONCERN IN KULKARNI’S MODERNIST PRACTICE.

EXECUTED IN CHARCOAL ON PAPER, THE WORK EMPLOYS BOLD OUTLINES, SIMPLIFIED FACIAL FEATURES, AND RHYTHMIC LINEAR PATTERNS TO CREATE A SENSE OF BALANCE AND QUIET TENSION. THE RESTRAINED TONAL RANGE AND ECONOMY OF MEANS EMPHASISE THE ARTIST’S INTEREST IN STRUCTURE, ORDER, AND EXPRESSIVE ABBREVIATION.

K.S. KULKARNI WAS A PIONEERING FIGURE IN MODERN INDIAN ART, RENOWNED FOR HIS ABILITY TO MERGE TRADITIONAL SENSIBILITIES WITH MODERNIST ABSTRACTION. THIS DRAWING EXEMPLIFIES HIS INTIMATE WORKS ON PAPER AND HIS CONTINUING EXPLORATION OF THE HUMAN FORM THROUGH GEOMETRY AND LINE.