Description :

Haridasan (1937–2014) was a distinguished Indian painter and art educator, celebrated for his pioneering contributions to Neo-Tantric art. Born in Kannur, Kerala, he first studied psychology at Madras University, graduating in 1958, before turning to art and completing his degree in painting at the Government College of Art and Craft, Chennai, in 1966. During this period, he became part of the Cholamandal Artists’ Village, engaging with leading figures of the Madras School such as P. Gopinath and S. G. Vasudev. He further trained in fresco painting at Vanasthali, Rajasthan, in 1970.

Haridasan’s artistic practice was deeply rooted in Tantric philosophy, which he interpreted through abstract forms, colour fields, and rhythmic compositions. His celebrated Yantra series (1968–71), including Prakruthi Yantra (1969), established him among the foremost Neo-Tantric artists alongside Biren De and G. R. Santosh. His motifs - vertical lines, concentric circles, flames, lotus petals, and geometric symbols, reflected his belief in Tantra as a folk-rooted, mystical system resonant with Indian cultural traditions.

Beyond his studio practice, Haridasan was an influential teacher and writer. He served as professor and later principal of the College of Fine Arts, Thiruvananthapuram (1980–92), and edited Artrends, the journal of the Progressive Painters’ Association (1970–85). His book Intimations on Art – Indian, Western, Modernity, Tradition & Tantra (1992) articulated his vision of connecting modern art with Indian traditions.

Haridasan’s works were exhibited widely, including at the Paris Biennale (1971), the Second Indian Triennale (1971), and the British Council, Chennai (1971). He was honoured with the Kerala Lalithakala Akademi’s Lalithakala Puraskaram (2003) and the Raja Ravi Varma Puraskaram (2013). He passed away in 2014 at the Cholamandal Artists’ Village, leaving behind a legacy of scholarship, pedagogy, and a distinctive Neo-Tantric visual language.