Yusuf Arakkal Explained

Yusuf Arakkal
Birth Name:	Yusuf Arakkal
Birth Date:	1945
Birth Place:	Chavakkad, Thrissur, Kerala^[1] ^[2] ^[3]
Death Place:	Bangalore, Karnataka
Nationality:	Indian
Occupation:	Artist
Spouse:	Sara Arakkal ^[4]
Children:	Shibu Arakkal

Yusuf Arakkal (1945 – 2016) was an Indian artist.^{[5] [6] [7] [8]}

Life

Arakkal was born in Chavakkad, Kerala. Both his parents died when he was young. Leaving the comforts of his house behind, he left for Bangalore, lonely but with a passion to become a painter. The hardships that he faced at Bangalore honed the artist in him and sharpened his sensibility. He took a diploma in painting from Karnataka Chitrakala Parishat (KCP), Bangalore and later specialized in graphic print making from National Academy community studios, Garhi, Delhi.^[9]

Arakkal received the prestigious Lorenzo De Medici Gold Medal, at Florence Internazionale Biennale, in Florence, Italy for his work Bacon’s Man with the Child and Priest. The artist produced a large collection of miscellaneous works consisting of drawings, paintings, sculptures, murals, paper works, prints and writing.^{[10] [11]}

He won several other awards including Karnataka Lalithkala Academy award in 1979 and 1981, a national award in 1983, a special award at the third Asian Art Biennale Dhaka, Bangladesh in 1986 and the Karnataka Lalithkala Academy honor in 1989.^[12]

Arakkal's paintings are singularly expressionistic in style. In them one could trace the artist's deep concern for man and society. Set against a dark, oppressive background are the faceless figures of ordinary people expressing brooding loneliness and despair brought on by a society obsessively drawn towards material success where ordinary people have no place.

Death

On 4 October 2016, Arakkal died in Bangalore due to a heart attack, at the age of 71.^{[13] [12]}

Exhibitions

In his career he exhibited extensively Internationally and in India. He has done many international shows.^[14]

Solo international shows

• 1992 - Relays De Monts - Siux, Limousin, France.
• 1993 - Gallerie Taormina Del Arte - Le Havre, France.
• 1994 - Srijana Contemporary Art Gallery - Kathmandu, Nepal.
• 1994 - Art Forum Gallery, Singapore.
• 1996 - Wallace Gallery, Chelsea, New York.
• 1996 - Air Gallery, Dower Street, London.

Group International shows

• 1971 - Indian Artists at Belarus and Moscow.
• 1985 - Thirty contemporary Indian Artists at Habana, Cuba.
• 1985 - Contemporary Indian Art show at the National Museum Mexico City, Mexico.
• 1985 - Second Asian Art show, Fukuoka, Japan.
• 1985 - Indian Printmaking, Festival of India, USA.
• 1986 - Sixth biennale de beau Art, Beaumont, France.
• 1986 - Third Asian Art Biennale, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
• 1986 - Inaugural exhibition of the National Museum of Modern Art, Seoul, South Korea.
• 1986 - Sixth International Triennale, New Delhi, India.
• 1987 - Ninth International Biennale de São Paulo, Brazil.
• 1993 - Nine Indian Artists CCA Gallery, New York.
• 1994 - Indian printmaking show, Maltwood Art Museum & Gallery Victoria, British Columbia.
• 1994 - Indian Contemporary Art Show, Gallery Maya, Hong Kong
• 1995 - Heads and faces - an exhibition by Gallery Maya, Visual Art Centre, Hong Kong.
• 1995 - 'Save the children' auction by Sothebys, Bombay.
• 1996 - Indian Contemporary Art show, Nagai Garo, Tokyo, Japan
• 1996 - 32 Contemporary Indian artists - exhibition and auction by Christies, London.
• 1996 - Women in Indian Art, by The Gallery, Visual Art Centre, Hong Kong.
• 1997 - Auction of Indian Contemporary Art by Christies, London.

References

8.Web site: Contemporary but pioneers. bangaloremirror.indiatimes.com. 24 November 2021.

9.Web site: Artists and their muses. bangaloremirror.indiatimes.com. 24 November 2021.

External links

• "Yusuf Arakkal Profile,Interview and Artworks"

Notes and References

1. News: Artist Yusuf Arakkal passes away at 71 . 4 October 2016 . Hindustan Times . 31 January 2019 .
2. Web site: yarakkal.com. yarakkal.com. 24 November 2021.
3. Web site: Noted Kerala artist Yusuf Arakkal dies at 71 . indianexpress.com. 4 October 2016 . 24 November 2021.
4. News: Yusuf Arakkal: Yusuf Arakkal, renowned artist, passes away at 71 | Bengaluru News. Times of India. 5 October 2016 . 24 November 2021.
5. News: Dhanaraj . Ruth . The definitive Yusuf Arakkal collection goes on display in Bengaluru . The Hindu . 4 November 2022 . en-IN.
6. News: Dhanaraj . Ruth . Yusuf Arakkal's Christ series on display for the first time in Bengaluru . The Hindu . 10 January 2023 . en-IN.
7. News: Portrait of a humanist . Deccan Herald . 23 October 2022 . en.
8. News: A burst of creative energy . Deccan Herald . 8 January 2023 . en.
9. News: Ramdev . Darshana . Yusuf Arakkal: Every creative act is Godly . Deccan Chronicle . 5 October 2016 . en.
10. News: How artist Yusuf Arakkal, who passed away on 4 October, shaped the art scene in Bengaluru . Firstpost . 4 October 2016 . en.
11. News: A Miracle In Trouble . Outlooki India.
12. News: Noted Kerala artist Yusuf Arakkal dies at 71 . The Indian Express . 4 October 2016 . en.
13. News: Canvassing for the tiger - The Hindu . . 6 May 2011 .
14. http://www.onlinebangalore.com/life/art/yusuf.html Artist Profile: Yusuf Arakkal