Born in Cannanore, Kerala, India.
Lived and worked in Chennai, New Delhi, and Thiruvananthapuram.
K.V. Haridasan was an Indian painter and art educator who is known for his pioneering work in Indian modern painting, both in the context of Neo-Tantra as well as the Madras Movement of Art (1950-1980). He was one of the founder-members of the Cholamandal Artists' Village, Chennai (1965-present). His 'Yantra' (1968) solo exhibition at British Council Madras (now Chennai) is among one of the earliest Neo-Tantra painting exhibitions in India.His later series such as Nirvriti Yantra and Brahmasutra are known for their striking juxtapositions of precisely rendered prismatic colour fields with minimal iconic forms.
Several pictorial diagram-making traditions that accompanied the dance and ritual forms of northern Kerala - such as Theyyam and Padayani - have found their way into the particular iconography of Haridasan's works. Nested within asymmetric geometric grids employing delicate transparency and flat colours, Haridasan's paintings highlight the significant contributions of Indian ritual and performative traditions to the history of abstraction in painting, while simultaneously engaging in dialogue with the optical experiments of contemporary Color field painting and Op Art. His paintings were a prominent the iconic Neo-Tantra exhibition in West Germany and UCLA in 1985, co-curated by art historian LP Sihare and painter Lee Mullican.
In addition to his art practice, Haridasan was employed as a teacher at the College of Fine Arts, Thiruvanathapuram, Kerala from 1980-1992, serving as its Principal from 1989-92. He was editor for the second iteration of Art Trends magazine published at the Cholamandal Artists' Village from 1979-85, and published his book Intimations on Art: Indian, Western, Modernity, Tradition and Tantra in 1994.
Founding Cholamandal Artists' Village with Madras Art Movement- 1965
1966, pen on paper, 8.5x11.5inch.
Pioneering Neo-Tantra - 27–31 December 1968, Yantra Series, exhibition of paintings by K.V. Haridasan, British Council, 150-A Mount Road, Madras (Chennai), inaugurated 26 December 1968.
1968, Moha Yantra, watercolor on paper, 22x14inch.
Image retrieved from catalogue.
1969, Bija Yantra, oil on canvas, 33x38inch.
1970, Nirvriti Yantra, oil on canvas, 55.0 x 60.0inch.
Delhi Art Gallery (DAG) collection, New Delhi.
Image retrieved online.
1971, Bija Yantra, oil on canvas, 45.2x45inch.
National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA) collection, New Delhi.
Image retrieved from catalogue.
1974, pen and ink on paper, 14.5x21.5inch.
1974, Brahmasutra, acrylic on canvas, 39x39 inch.
Lalit Kala Akademi collection, Acc-606.
Image retrieved from catalogue.
1974, Bija Yantra, watercolor on paper, 9.8x11.2inch.
1977, Brahmasutra, oil on canvas, 48x36inch.
Lalit Kala Akademi collection, Acc-691.
Image retrieved from catalogue.
1979, print, 9.5x9.5inch.
Editor of Art Trends magazine published at the Cholamandal Artists' Village. – 1979-1985
Image retrieved from catalogue.
Teacher at the College of Fine Arts, Thiruvanathapuram, Kerala, India. - 1980-1992. Served as its Principal - 1990-92.
Image retrieved online.
1981, pen on paper, 5x6.7inch.
1982, Brahmasutra, acrylic on canvas, 69.6x36.3inch.
National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA) collection, New Delhi.
Image retrieved from catalogue.
1985, Brahmasutra, oil on canvas, 46.5x63inch.
Neo-Tantra: Contemporary Indian Painting Inspired by Tradition, Frederick S. Wight Art Gallery, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, USA. – 17 December 1985-2 February 1986 (Festival of India 1985-1986).
Image retrieved from catalogue.
1988, watercolor on paper, 13.8x19.5inch.
1991, Tapestry, 39x45 inch.
Image retrieved from catalogue.
1991, mixed media on paper, 9.4x10.9inch.
Brahmasutra Series: Exhibition of Paintings by Haridasan, Jehangir Art Gallery, 161B Mahatma Gandhi Road, Fort, Bombay (Mumbai), 400001. - 26 February–3 March 1992.
Image on poster: 1990, Brahmasutra, oil on canvas, 68x68inch.
Delhi Art Gallery (DAG) collection, New Delhi.
Image retrieved from catalogue.
Wrote and published Intimations on Art: Indian, Western, Modernity, Tradition and Tantra. - 1994
Image retrieved online.
1997, pastel on paper, 8.6x11.6inch.
1997, Brahmasutra, 47x63.5inch.
No date, terracotta sculpture, 3x3x4inch.
2003, Brahmasutra, oil on canvas, 24x36inch.
In Cholamandal Artists’ Village permanent collection.
Image retrieved from catalogue.
2009, Brahmasutra, oil on canvas, 63.5x63.5inch.
2011, Brahmasutra, oil on canvas, 39x51.5inch.
Founding Cholamandal Artists' Village with Madras Art Movement - 1965
1966, pen on paper, 8.5x11.5inch.
Pioneering Neo-Tantra - 27–31 December 1968, Yantra Series, exhibition of paintings by K.V. Haridasan, British Council, 150-A Mount Road, Madras (Chennai), inaugurated 26 December 1968.
1968, Moha Yantra, watercolor on paper, 22x14inches. Image retrieved from catalogue.
1969, Bija Yantra, oil on canvas, 33x38inch.
1970, Nirvriti Yantra, oil on canvas, 55.0 x 60.0 in.
Delhi Art Gallery (DAG) collection, New Delhi.
Image retrieved online.
1971, Bija Yantra, oil on canvas, 45.2x45inch.
National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA) collection, New Delhi.
Image retrieved from catalogue.
1974, pen and ink on paper, 14.5x21.5inch.
1974, Brahmasutra, acrylic on canvas, 39x39 inch.
Lalit Kala Akademi collection, Acc-606.
Image retrieved from catalogue.
1974, Bija Yantra, watercolor on paper, 9.8x11.2inch.
1977, Brahmasutra, oil on canvas, 48x36inch.
Lalit Kala Akademi collection, Acc-691.
Image retrieved from catalogue.
1979, print, 9.5x9.5inch.
Editor of Art Trends magazine published at the Cholamandal Artists' Village. – 1979-1985
Image retrieved from catalogue.
Teacher at the College of Fine Arts, Thiruvanathapuram, Kerala, India. - 1980-1992 Served as its Principal - 1990-92.
Image retrieved online.
1981, pen on paper, 5x6.7inch.
1982, Brahmasutra, acrylic on canvas, 69.6x36.3inch.
National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA) collection, New Delhi.
Image retrieved from catalogue.
1985, Brahmasutra, oil on canvas, 46.5x63inch.
Neo-Tantra: Contemporary Indian Painting Inspired by Tradition, Frederick S. Wight Art Gallery, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, USA. – 17 December 1985-2 February 1986 (Festival of India 1985-1986).
Image retrieved from catalogue.
1988, watercolor on paper, 13.8x19.5inch.
1991, Tapestry, 39x45 inch.
Image retrieved from catalogue.
1991, mixed media on paper, 9.4x10.9inch.
Brahmasutra Series: Exhibition of Paintings by Haridasan, Jehangir Art Gallery, 161B Mahatma Gandhi Road, Fort, Bombay (Mumbai), 400001. - 26 February–3 March 1992.
Image on poster: 1990, Brahmasutra, oil on canvas, 68x68inch.
Delhi Art Gallery (DAG) collection, New Delhi.
Image retrieved from catalogue.
Wrote and published Intimations on Art: Indian, Western, Modernity, Tradition and Tantra. - 1994
Image retrieved online.
1997, pastel on paper, 8.6x11.6inch.
1997, Brahmasutra, 47x63.5inch.
No date, terracotta sculpture, 3x3x4inch.
2003, Brahmasutra, oil on canvas, 24x36inch.
In Cholamandal Artists’ Village permanent collection.
Image retrieved from catalogue.
