K M Adimoolam

Born in 1938 in Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu, K. M. Adimoolam was inherently artistic, recognizing his passion for drawing early in life. This discovery led him to Chennai, where, under sculptor Shri Dhanapal's guidance in 1959, he enrolled at the School of Arts and Crafts. After completing his Diploma in Advanced Painting in 1966, Adimoolam began a series of black and white portraits of Mahatma Gandhi, spanning about 60 years of the Mahatma's life. Sketching from photographs, he completed nearly a hundred drawings. The other collection he ardently created is a series on the Kings of India. India's rulers in all their valor and glory are captured on paper with unmatched brilliance. Each of the works from his Kings series is different, by expression, depth, splendor, and majesty, yet they all radiate imposing pride and a sense of grandiose. Reminiscent of an era long gone, his sketches are quite the collectors' dream.

Adimoolam, driven by his artistic talents, left behind Tiruchirappalli's historical richness to pursue his passion in Chennai. He became involved with the Modern Tamil Writer's Group in the mid-1960s, contributing illustrations, book covers, and layouts. Adimoolam received numerous prestigious awards from institutions such as the Lalit Kala Akademi in Chennai, Chitrakala Parishat in Bangalore, Bombay Art Society, Hyderabad Art Society, and Academy of Fine Arts in Kolkata. In addition to the National Award from Lalit Kala Akademi in New Delhi, he served as a jury member for the National Exhibition of Art in New Delhi and the Bombay Art Society's Annual All India Art Exhibition. In 1990, he was the Commissioner for the Indian section at the Third Ankara Biennial in Turkey. Adimoolam passed away on January 15, 2008, in Chennai.

Academics

Government College of Arts & Craft, Chennai, India in 1960-66