Born in 1932, artist A P Santhanaraj developed a distinctive artistic style, dedicated to exploring the subtle complexities of pictorial space through an abstract approach to figurative subject matter Although skilled in painting, his true mastery was evident in his line drawings, which made a significant contribution to the celebrated Madras Movement His spontaneous, free-flowing lines not only influenced his use of colour but also gave birth to archetypal figures, particularly female heroines and lovers entwined in embrace These archetypes seemed to arise from his subconscious, emerging through the jagged lines and the spatial forms they created within his artistic process Santhanaraj viewed his artistic lines as channels of divine inspiration Although a devout Christian, his approach to art transcended religious boundaries, drawing comparisons with Hindu depictions of Shiva Nataraja For him, the process of creating and destroying in his art mirrored the essence of life itself

Santhanaraj studied at the Government College of Arts and Crafts in Chennai, eventually rising to the position of principal before his retirement in 1990 His artistic achievements earned him numerous honours, including the National Award in 1957, the Kala Ratna in 1997, and the Kalaimamani Shiromani Award in 1996 Retrospectives of his work were held in Delhi in 1990 and 2001 He was also notably commissioned to create portraits for Parliament House in New Delhi and murals for the Madras State Museum