BIOGRAPHY
He was born in Calcutta, West Bengal. Famous as a painter yet a versatile artist, widely acknowledged as revivalist of tradition but very progressive in outlook and approach to art and life, Asit Haldar had a rich wealth of styles, techniques and themes in a variety of his works scattered all over India and abroad. Haldar proved his creative talents quite early in his life. He had his roots in the rich cultural heritage of India. He tried to rediscover the canons of Oriental Art through his works the lines, the form, the colours, and above all, the spirit. His paintings have a strong poetic content, which deeply touches one`s feelings . Even a man like Rabindranath Tagore drew inspiration for his poems from Haldar`s work, specially his sensitive brush drawings of lyrical scenes from village life. Inspite of executing copies of fresco paintings at Ajanta caves between 1909 and 1921 with Lady C.J. Herringham, his own style of work remained unaffected.
Career
From 1909 to 1911 he was in the Ajanta documenting the frescoes. He did this on an expedition with Lady Herringham, and in conjunction with two other Bengali painters, the object of which was to bring cave art to a wider Indian audience. In 1921, he undertook another expedition, this time to the Bagh Caves and his reflections on the art there indicate quite a few surrealistic depictions From 1911 to 1915 he was an art teacher at Shantiniketan. He was also the principal of the Kala Bhavan school from 1911 to 1923, assisting Tagore with cultural and artistic activities. During this time, he introduced many different styles of art to the students, and revolutionized decorative and ceremonial displays there.
Prof. K. S. Kulkarni: 1916-1994
1916 April 17, born at Belgaum, Karnataka
1935-42 Studied at Sir J.J. School of Art, Bombay.
1945 Married Kamal Sahani, a freedom fighter.
1945-62 Visiting Professor, Delhi Polytechnic Art Department.
1948 First one-man show, All India Fine Arts & Crafts Society, New Delhi.
1948-62 Founder member, Delhi Silpi Chakra.
1949 Represented.India at the International Art Programme held in U.S.A.
1949,50,51 One-man shows at the Freemason's Hall, New Delhi.
1951-94 Several one-man shows in India and abroad, Kumar Gallery held his one-man shows from 1955 to 1970
Participated in International shows at Tokyo, Paris, New York, Venice, Sao Paolo and London.
Prof. K. S. Kulkarni: 1916-1994
1952-67 Founder member Triveni Kala Sangam and Director of the Art Department.
1955,62,65 National Awards, Lalit Kala Akademi.
1959-61 Murals and Sculptures for fairs and International exhibitions at Delhi.
1961-63 Visiting Professor, School of Architecture & Town Planning, Delhi.
1964 200'x50' mural at Moscow exhibition organised by the Government of India.
1966 Mosaic murals for the Children Book Trust, Delhi.
1967,72,76 Elected as an eminent artist to serve in the National Akademi of Fine Arts.
1967-69, 72-78 Dean, Faculty of Music & Fine Arts, Banaras Hindu University and Head of the Department of Paintings.
1969-72 Visiting Professor at the Skidmore College New York, Department of Painting and Asian Studies
1972-76 Elected Vice Chairman of the Lalit KaIa Akademi, New Delhi.
1972-79 Chairman, U.P. Lalit Kala Akademi, Lucknow.
1982 Elected Fellow of the Lalit Kala Akademi.
1984 National Emeritus Professor chosen by the Government of India for outstanding contribution to art.
1985 Parishad Samman by the Sahitya KaIa Parishad.
1986 'Retrospective' show sponsored by the Birla Academy of Art & Culture Calcutta.
1987-91 Visiting Professor, Delhi College of Art for MFA classes.
1988 Monograph, published by the Lalit Kala Akadem'.
1996 K. S. Kulkarni Trust formed according to his 'Will' to encourage young artists.
1996 A film produced by Vanessa H. Smith
1997 An exhibition 'Light From The Darkness' A series of paintings from 1964-66 at the Kumar Gallery, New Delhi.
Many publications and writings on Indian Art including "Human Form in Indian Art" and jamini.Roy - Out of the Main Stream of Art Movement.
