R B Bhaskaran, born in Madras in 1942, is renowned for his distinctive series on cats and couples He stands apart by rejecting the notion of establishing an Indian cultural identity in his artworks, considering it a natural by-product of his creative process

For Bhaskaran, cats hold the same significance that horses did for M F Husain and Sunil Das His series featuring feline creatures emerged after a stray cat wandered into his studio several years ago Titled "Couple," another notable series was inspired by marriage photographs found in households across India According to the artist, these photographs not only capture memories of significant moments but also carry profound meanings related to traditional man-woman relationships Additionally, Bhaskaran has created acclaimed paintings based on the poems of renowned music composer Ilayaraja, known primarily for his work in Tamil cinema With deep browns and grey-blacks dominating his palette, his paintings possess a tribal quality The directness with which he depicts faces and other elements adds to the distinctive character of his artworks

Bhaskaran has received numerous government fellowships throughout his career He has served as the principal of the Government College of Art in Chennai and the College of Art in Kumbakonam In 2002, he held the position of Chairman at the Lalit Kala Akademi in New Delhi Presently, the artist resides and works in Chennai