A.V. Ilango

A.V. Ilango, who holds a Masters degree in Mathematics from Bangalore University, began his artistic career in 1973. He draws inspiration from his childhood in Gobichettipalayam, Tamil Nadu, a town alive with harvests, fairs, festivals, music, and dance. These vivid memories continue to shape his art, which captures the rhythm, movement, and spirit of everyday life in rural and urban India.

His early works are rich in colour and decorative detail, while his later pieces explore minimalist black-and-white compositions that focus on the relationship between space, form, and movement. Influenced by his mathematical background, Ilango approaches his work with a strong sense of structure and linearity. Over time, his subjects have ranged from human figures and dancers to symbolic bovine forms, most notably in his acclaimed Bull and Beyond series, in which the bull represents both strength and spiritual symbolism in Hindu philosophy.

His works are a reflection of life, capturing harvests, fairs, and festivals that resound with folk songs, music, and dance. They span a wide range of series, including Rasa Leela, Raging Bull, Odissi Dancers, Drummers, Serene Women, and the epic Ponniyin Selvan. Through these collections, Ilango presents an evolving vision that celebrates the depth and beauty of Indian culture.