Senior artist M. Senathipathi in Cholamandal Art Village on Friday. |Photo source: Akhila Easwaran
Manickam Senathipathi’s art journey to many worlds takes a profound trajectory in the last canvas painted in the village of artists in Cholamandal on Saturday, May 10, 2025.
He called it “Christ”, symbolizing the recent elevation of the new pope to the highest priest’s seat in the Catholic church. The image bathes in the sky blue on the green cross, and the brown of the green umbrella extending into the central form.
The last work drawn by Senathipathi on Saturday, May 10, 2025
Like in most of Senathipathi’s works, the symbolic use of the pattern, whether it is embedded in the central cylinder of the ancient prophet, with a beard, the fallen body of the hero on the ground; the symbolic hand held in a peaceful or warning posture can be explained in a variety of ways.
Manickam Senathipathi has always been a constantly turbulent but always creative, versatile community of artists, pioneered by the great KCS Paniker of Cholamandal Artists Village. He won the legendary Trail Blazers of the first generation of artists and the man who now carries burning brushes, even if not the blowing wind of metal reliefs, or the chisel of a stonemason. As the subtext indicated by Cholamandal, it is both a stage for art and handicrafts. In the case of Senathipathi, his early and most famous works are off-the-scenes metal images that combine art and crafts with equal barbarity.
Chennai, Tamil Nadu, May 20, 2023: For Metro Big: Senior Artist M. Senathipathi, P. Gopinath, C. Douglas, PS Nandhan and Selvaraj were held on Friday at Cholamandal Art Village. Photo: Akhila Easwaran/Hinduism | Photo source: Akhila Easwaran
The most iconic of these is Krishna’s character playing a flute on a silver background with traces of metal. Or more widely scattered by a tender episode of Lovelorn Maidens attracted by the melodic notes of Krishna, gathering around him like a cannonball vine in midsummer. Senatipathi’s work combines a grim approach and has a very subtle erotic effect.
Quoting Senathipathi from his artist’s statements: In my works, I have never stopped being a mythologist, but now, there is still a certain concern in my mind about the human condition. To express this mood, I portray concepts related to life insecure in metal reliefs. In describing these expressions, I also deal with beauty and human behaviors, such as feelings, to make life more meaningful. ”
As his son Saravanan explains, Senathipathi belongs to his ancestral village in Madurantakam Cheyur. The sounds and drums of cultural diversity in Tamil Nadu have almost effortlessly caused his work. It was seen on the surface of people who lazily tilted in some of their works, or the bright colors of his canvas became part of his tracks in the years that followed.
Early – cholamandal |Picture source: Special arrangement
After he received his diploma in Painting and Painting in 1965 after his initial education at the Chennai Government Artists’ College of Arts, Senathipathi joined the artist community of Cholamandal Artists’s Village as a lifelong member. In the early days, he traveled extensively to countries such as Britain, France, the Netherlands, Belgium and West Germany. Later, he was invited to parts of China and Southeast Asia, including Dolby in West Asia. Among the diversity awards and recognition, Senathipathi received the Kalaichemmal Award 2008, the Government of Tamil Nadu, 1984-86, Ministry of Culture of the Government of India and Lalit Kala akademi, Tamil Nadu, 1984-86, 1981.
Saravanan, an honorary artist, added: “He is a legend, walking along the legend and taking his own path. It’s now our turn to make sure we carry this legacy throughout our lives.” Senathipathi left behind his wife Gowri, daughter Hemalatha and son Saravanan.
publishing – May 12, 2025 06:32 pm ist
