Muralidharan Alagar
Contemporary Artist based in Chennai
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Artist Statement
"Art of seeing and Art of expression are like the heart and soul of an artist. "
Most of my inspiration comes from day to day life of people in the markets. I capture them with plein air paintings and sketches since 2010. Few sketches would force me to develop them into bigger paintings at my studio. Love using bigger brushes and palette knife for Acrylic painting over stretched canvases. I love ink and watercolors for smaller works on locations and studio as well. Charcoal and dry pastels are also my favorite mediums.
‘Hide & Seek’, ‘Visual Treats’, ‘Jallikattu’, ‘Dialogue with her’, ‘Chennai’ are a few of my series of paintings. Did many on location or Plein-air artworks from various cities in India, mostly Chennai. Murals and Digital artworks are done as part of art consulting for a few companies.
Fauvism, Expressionism, Surrealism, Folk art influences are huge in my art works. Love to reveal subtle emotions and dreams behind human expression and body language in the creations.
Participated in many groups and solo shows.
My innate nature to bring out the essence of our people, place, and culture made me take photography as my other serious pursuit. Published and contributed to magazines and newspapers.
I am an artist because of the inspiration I got from my art teacher Mr. Thangavelu in my school days, encouragement and support of my mother Sakunthala. Beyond the support, I owe my wife Anbuselvi everything!
My inspiration also comes from the free and expressive drawings of kids. Art makes me feel the true myself in connection with the universe. I believe Art of seeing and Art of expression is like the heart and soul of an artist.
I’ve done Bachelors in Engineering and worked as Electronics, Software Engineer. Worked in the US, Delhi, Bangalore, and Chennai. I am pursuing art and software , balancing my passion and profession.
Founder of Chennai Weekend Artist group in 2012. Very active group today in Chennai for the promotion and encouragement of art among any interested person and the common public. It is an non commercial forum, meeting during Sunday, in and around Chennai for on location sketching and painting. I co-ordinate group activities alone with interested volunteers. We have conducted couple of group Art exhibitions in Lalitkala Akedamy, Chennai. Due to Corona lockdowns, since 2020 we have online meetings also during Sundays.
Art Shows
2010,11,12 – Group- At Sasken communications, Bangalore
2013 – Group- At Amethyst, Chennai
2013 – Group- ‘Flash back’ At Anna University
2014 – Group- At Gallery Veda @ Shilpa Architects, Chennai
2014 – Group- Art Alive – Sri Mutha Venkatasubbarao Gallery Hall, Chennai
2015 – Group- Five Artists Show, Loyola College, Chennai
2015 – Solo – Hide & Seek, Vinnyasa Premier Art Gallery, Chennai
2015 – Solo – THE GAME begins, Cholamandal Artists Village, Chennai
2016 – Group- VIVANTA, Allience Francaise, Pondicherry.
2016 – Group- Infinit0, Ambrosia Gallery, Chennai
2016 – Group- Ilango’s Artspace Annual Art Exhibition 2016 @ Tamil Nadu Music & Fine Arts University.
2016 – Group – ’50 shades of Black and White’ @ Venkatappa Art gallery, Bangalore.
2016 – Group – Jaipur Art Summit, Jaipur
2017 – Group – Visual Inscriptions, Chitrakala Parishath, Bangalore
2017 – Group – ‘CWA Art show 2017’ @ Lalitkala Academy, Chennai.
2019 – Group – A Haiku on Life @ Taj western, Bengaluru by Artflute.com
2020 – Group – ‘PERCEPTIONS & EXPLORATIONS’ @ CKP, Bangalore.
Press and Magazines
Aug 20′ 2013 – Hindu news – Article about Chennai Weekend Artists
Oct 20′ 2013 – Times of India – Article about Chennai Weekend Artists
April 2014 – Kalki magazine – Article about Artworks and Photographs of Muralidharan Alagar
June 29′ 2014 – Dinamalar news – Article about Muralidharan Alagar and Chennai Weekend Artists
Sep 2014 – Puthiya Thalaimurai – Article about the travel photographs of Muralidharan Alagar
Dec 18′ 2014 – Deccan Chronicle and Times of India published about group show ‘Art Alive’.
July 18′ 2015 – The New Indian Express – A splash of innocence – Article about my solo art exhibition.
Sep 10′ 2015 – World Art Café – Video of my art journey
Oct 11’2015 – The Madras Mag – Book published by sketches about Chennai.
Oct’ 2015 – The New Indian Express – Bulls of Jallikattu jump out of his canvas – Article about my solo art exhibition
Jan 11′ 2016 – The Hindu – Horns and hues – Four artists celebrate their childhood, and bulls, in their works.
Jan 21′ 2016 – Times Of India – Where color gives life to nature and more
Jan 31st, 2016 – Dhinamalar – Vivanta exhibition
May’2017 – Manal Veedu, Tamil Literature Magazine
30-Mar 2018 – Times of India – Article about CWA – Sketching their dreams.
Painting at Lotus pond, Pallikaranai
Painting at Fishmarket, Kasimedu
Painting at Chembarambaakam Lake. Enjoyed 'Dialogue with her' !
Sketching at Labor statue, Chennai.
An effort to teach photography to kids. with Ashok Saravanan.
Receiving a momento from my respectful artists Maruthi, ManiyamSelvan and Keshav. On the occasion of CWA art show 2017 at LalitKala Academy, Chennai.
Made this B&W Rangoli at Sasken, Bangalore. With my friend Aravind Muthusamy!
With family and friends at my first Art show Hide & Seek at Vinyasa Art Gallery, Chennai
With CWA friends at Egmore Museum, Chennai
With CWA friends at Anna Library, Chennai
With CWA friends at Valluvarkottam, Chennai.
During CWA birthday cake cutting
With CWA friends at Valluvarkottam, Chennai.
During CWA birthday cake cutting
Sketching at Gangaikondacholapuram.
Painting at Big Temple, Tanjore.
Chasing camels at Pushkar, Rajasthan. Most memorable event!
At Kumartuli, Kolkata
At Jaipur
At Mulayanagiri, Karnataka
At Alanganellor, Madurai
With respectful Illayaraja at 'Art Alive' Art show.
At Bihar
At Ladak
With CWC friends
Akhil - leading the way at Gengi Fort
Celebrate this life..
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