1. Understanding Geometric Abstraction
Geometric abstraction is a foundational movement in modern art emerging in the early 20th century that replaces the imitation of nature with a visual vocabulary of pure geometric forms (squares, rectangles, circles, triangles) and color planes. Far from mere mathematical decoration, it explores spatial rhythms, optical balance, and the metaphysical resonance of proportions.
2. The Madras Art Movement and Cultural Synthesis
In the 1960s, the Government School of Arts and Crafts in Chennai (Madras), led by visionary master K.C.S. Paniker, birthed one of India's most original avant-gardes: the Madras Art Movement. Young artists, including Narayanan Akkitham, rejected both colonial academicism and passive imitation of Western trends, drawing upon indigenous visual traditions — Kerala temple murals, calligraphy, and sacred geometry — to forge a distinctly Indian modernism.
3. Sacred Geometry and Cosmological Structures
Living in Paris since 1967 following his studies at the École des Beaux-Arts under Jean Bertholle, Narayanan Akkitham developed a singular pictorial synthesis. His paintings are structured like vibrant architectures: interlocking planes and faceted geometries evoke the spatial logic of tantric yantras and mandalas, functioning as visual meditations on cosmic order, light, and harmonic equilibrium.
4. Art Glossary for Students and Enthusiasts
- Oil on canvas
- Painting technique using pigments bound in drying oil (linseed, walnut), providing rich tonal depth, durability, and luminous glazing.
- Yantra & Mandala
- Sacred geometric diagrams in Indian philosophy representing cosmic principles, balance of opposing forces, and meditative focal points.
- School of Paris
- Community of international artists who gathered in Paris during the 20th century, revitalizing modern art through cross-cultural dialogues in Montparnasse and Saint-Germain.
5. Where to View Works by Narayanan Akkitham
- Galerie AB (Paris 6ᵉ) : 2026 Retrospective (October 1 – November 7, 2026), featuring 82 masterworks.
- Bibliothèque nationale de France (BnF, Paris) : Prints and graphic works in French national collections.
- National Museum, New Delhi : Permanent modern Indian art collection.
- Government Museum, Chennai : Foundational pieces from the Madras movement.