Kattingeri Krishna Hebbar
Encyclopedia
Kattingeri Krishna Hebbar (1911–1996) better known as K.K. Hebbar was a celebrated artist known for his India
themed artworks.
in a Tulu
speaking Brahmin
family. Hebbar was inclined towards art from his childhood, because his father was an occasional sculptor who used to make Ganesha
idols. Coming from an artistic family background Hebbar pursued art and formally studied at the J. J. School of Art in Mumbai
between 1940-1945. Later he studied art at the Académie Julian
in Paris
.
. Later he experimented with other themes. His artworks were inspired by Paul Gauguin
and Amrita Sher-Gil
. He first won international audiences at the Art Now In India exhibitions in 1965 which were held in London
and Brussels
. Hebbar also participated in various International art exhibitions like the Venice Biennale
, São Paulo Art Biennial
as well as the Tokyo Biennale. Today, his artworks are considered highly influential in Indian Art History.
and the Padma Bhushan
.Other of his awards include Academy of Fine Arts, Kolkata, the Bombay Art Society Award, the Bombay State Award, the Lalit Kala Akademi Award,Varna Shilpi K Venkatappa Award, an honorary doctorate from Mysore University, the Soviet Land Nehru Award.
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
themed artworks.
Early life
Kattingeri Krishna Hebbar was born in 1911 in Kattingeri near Udupi, IndiaIndia
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
in a Tulu
Tulu language
The Tulu language |?]]]) is a Dravidian language spoken by 1.95 million native speakers mainly in the southwest part of Indian state Karnataka known as Tulu Nadu. In India, 1.72 million people speak it as their mother tongue , increased by 10 percent over the 1991 census...
speaking Brahmin
Tuluva Brahmins
The Tuluva Brahmins are the three Tulu-speaking Brahmin communities of Shivalli Brahmins, Sthanika Brahmins and the Tuluva Hebbars.All these Brahmin communities trace their origin to Achichatra in north India, from which they migrated to Tulu Nadu. They were among the most orthodox of all Brahmins...
family. Hebbar was inclined towards art from his childhood, because his father was an occasional sculptor who used to make Ganesha
Ganesha
Ganesha , also spelled Ganesa or Ganesh, also known as Ganapati , Vinayaka , and Pillaiyar , is one of the deities best-known and most widely worshipped in the Hindu pantheon. His image is found throughout India and Nepal. Hindu sects worship him regardless of affiliations...
idols. Coming from an artistic family background Hebbar pursued art and formally studied at the J. J. School of Art in Mumbai
Mumbai
Mumbai , formerly known as Bombay in English, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the most populous city in India, and the fourth most populous city in the world, with a total metropolitan area population of approximately 20.5 million...
between 1940-1945. Later he studied art at the Académie Julian
Académie Julian
The Académie Julian was an art school in Paris, France.Rodolphe Julian established the Académie Julian in 1868 at the Passage des Panoramas, as a private studio school for art students. The Académie Julian not only prepared students to the exams at the prestigious École des Beaux-Arts, but offered...
in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
.
Career
Hebbar's early artwoks were called his Kerala phase because of his depiction of the landscapes of the regions of Malabar and Tulu NaduTulu Nadu
Tulu Nadu is a Tulu-speaking region spread over to parts of present Karnataka and Kerala States of India. It consists of the Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts of Karnataka and the northern parts of the Kasaragod district of Kerala up to the Payaswini River...
. Later he experimented with other themes. His artworks were inspired by Paul Gauguin
Paul Gauguin
Eugène Henri Paul Gauguin was a leading French Post-Impressionist artist. He was an important figure in the Symbolist movement as a painter, sculptor, print-maker, ceramist, and writer...
and Amrita Sher-Gil
Amrita Sher-Gil
Amrita Sher-Gil , was an eminent Indian painter, sometimes known as India's Frida Kahlo, and today considered an important woman painter of 20th century India, whose legacy stands at par with that of the Masters of Bengal Renaissance; she is also the 'most expensive' woman painter of India.-Early...
. He first won international audiences at the Art Now In India exhibitions in 1965 which were held in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
and Brussels
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
. Hebbar also participated in various International art exhibitions like the Venice Biennale
Venice Biennale
The Venice Biennale is a major contemporary art exhibition that takes place once every two years in Venice, Italy. The Venice Film Festival is part of it. So too is the Venice Biennale of Architecture, which is held in even years...
, São Paulo Art Biennial
São Paulo Art Biennial
The São Paulo Art Biennial was founded in 1951 and has been held every two years since. It is the second oldest art biennial in the world after the Venice Biennial , which serves as its role model....
as well as the Tokyo Biennale. Today, his artworks are considered highly influential in Indian Art History.
Awards
Hebbar won many awards throughout his lifetime including India's fourth and third highest civilian awards the Padma ShriPadma Shri
Padma Shri is the fourth highest civilian award in the Republic of India, after the Bharat Ratna, the Padma Vibhushan and the Padma Bhushan...
and the Padma Bhushan
Padma Bhushan
The Padma Bhushan is the third highest civilian award in the Republic of India, after the Bharat Ratna and the Padma Vibhushan, but comes before the Padma Shri. It is awarded by the Government of India.-History:...
.Other of his awards include Academy of Fine Arts, Kolkata, the Bombay Art Society Award, the Bombay State Award, the Lalit Kala Akademi Award,Varna Shilpi K Venkatappa Award, an honorary doctorate from Mysore University, the Soviet Land Nehru Award.