The Living Tradition: Perspectives on Modern Indian Art

by K.G. Subramanyan

"The fulfillment of a modern Indian artist's wish to be part of a living tradition, i.e. to be individual and innovative, without being an outsider in his own culture, will not come of itself, it calls for concerted effort." K. G. Subramanyan, the eminent Indian artist, offers a theoretical groundwork for that effort in his critical study of modern Indian art as it has evolved through continuous interaction with several traditions, foreign and indigenous. In the course of his study, he touches on the national distinctions between the Indian and European traditions, on the continuities in India's folk traditions, and on the attempts of several thinkers and artists to identify an Indian artistic tradition or to deny it altogether in a quest for personal expression or universality. A generous selection of illustrations accompanies the text and greatly contributes to the enjoyment and understanding of Subramanyan's discourse.

96 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 1987

Reviews

[Shivang Agrawal · Rating 5 out of 5]

First book I have ever read on Art.
Sets the perspective well on what kind of thoughts an artist might have and their answers.
Makes me want to not overthink and start painting whatever I feel like.