Velu Viswanadhan born in 1940 Diploma-holder from the Government College of Arts and Crafts, Chennai in 1960, his early work was figurative He later evolved to experiment with abstract and geometric forms Inspired by geometrical ritualistic-magical diagrams of his native Kerala, he explored the visual language inherent in them with a gradual evolution of form and color Viswanadhan draws with a particularly arresting technique The outline is drawn with thick stamping ink, and then oil paint is applied with a brush and the work washed with turpentine The transparent and thin paint reveals the geometric forms He lives and works in Paris nowHe has exhibited, among other shows, at ‘Besides Paris’, Birla Academy of Art and Culture, Kolkata, 2010; ‘Manifestations III’, Delhi; India Moderna, Institute Valencia d’Art Modern, Centro Julio Gonzalez, Spain 2008-09; Gallierie Espace, NGMA, Jehangir Art Gallery, Tao Art Gallery; Viswanadhan: Early Years, Delhi Art Gallery,New Delhi, 2008; 2006, 04, 02, 2000, 1996 93, 89, 82 Galerie Darthea Speyer, Paris;as well as several solo shows Viswanadhan was awarded France’s highest civilian award, Chevalier des Arts etLetters in 2005; Premio Lubiam for Painting, Italy, 1978; Pris de la Peinture, Festival International, Menton, 1972; National/ State Awards for Painting, Lalit Kala Akademi,New Delhi, Kerala and Tamil Nadu 1968 and 1963