Provenance
Artist Details
Born in 1949 in Bangalore, Karnataka, JM Subramani, commonly known as JMS Mani, is a
highly acclaimed artist. He began learning art in 1974 at Kuvempu Kala Sanstha Ken School of
Art, under the tutelage of the school’s founder, RM Hadapad, with whom he developed a deep rooted bond that influenced his art tremendously.
JMS Mani’s most famous body of work, undoubtedly, is the Badami Series, inspired by Hadapad’s hometown, Badami. Its’ scenic landscapes and people became a lifelong obsession for Mani, and he created many oil paintings showcasing the ordinary men and women of Badami going about their daily activities. From what they wear to what they sell in the market, to the repetition in their stance, Mani masterfully used subtle nuances to highlight the simplicity of their existence. Fruits (especially bananas), flowers, kites, balloons and roosters make frequent appearances in the series, and his brilliant use of the impasto technique makes the vibrant colours of rural South India come alive in vivid textures. His art is an amalgamation of Indian culture with Occidental Western formalism. His figures are modeled in three-dimensional form, with bold brushwork, similar in style to those of the impressionists. Mani chooses to depict his characters – the balloon seller, the women with a rooster – in a simple and uncluttered manner. JMS Mani’s repertoire extends further beyond, including impressionistic and surrealistic artworks, and various experiments with sculpture, printmaking, watercolour, etching and mixed media works, besides his acrylic and oil paintings. He has had many shows across India and has participated in numerous group shows. Some Works sourced from the Internet for reference
The Artist in Auction
JMS Mani’s works have been featured in auctions by Sotheby’s, Pundole’s, Bid and Hammer, Prinseps, Story Ltd, and in marketplaces like Artsy.net and Invaluable.com.
