Arakkal was born in Chavakkad, Kerala. Both his parents died when he was young. Leaving the comforts of his house behind, he left for Bangalore, lonely but with a passion to become a painter. The hardships that he faced at Bangalore honed the artist in him and sharpened his sensibility. He took a diploma in painting from Karnataka Chitrakala Parishat (KCP), Bangalore and later specialized in graphic print making from National Academy community studios, Garhi, Delhi.[9]
Arakkal received the prestigious Lorenzo De Medici Gold Medal, at Florence Internazionale Biennale, in Florence, Italy for his work Bacon’s Man with the Child and Priest. The artist produced a large collection of miscellaneous works consisting of drawings, paintings, sculptures, murals, paper works, prints and writing.[10][11]
He won several other awards including Karnataka Lalithkala Academy award in 1979 and 1981, a national award in 1983, a special award at the third Asian Art Biennale Dhaka, Bangladesh in 1986 and the Karnataka Lalithkala Academy honor in 1989.[12]
Arakkal's paintings are singularly expressionistic in style. In them one could trace the artist's deep concern for man and society. Set against a dark, oppressive background are the faceless figures of ordinary people expressing brooding loneliness and despair brought on by a society obsessively drawn towards material success where ordinary people have no place.
Deathedit
On 4 October 2016, Arakkal died in Bangalore due to a heart attack, at the age of 71.[13][12]
Exhibitionsedit
In his career he exhibited extensively Internationally and in India. He has done many international shows.[14]
Solo international showsedit
1992 - Relays De Monts - Siux, Limousin, France.
1993 - Gallerie Taormina Del Arte - Le Havre, France.
1994 - Srijana Contemporary Art Gallery - Kathmandu, Nepal.
1994 - Art Forum Gallery, Singapore.
1996 - Wallace Gallery, Chelsea, New York.
1996 - Air Gallery, Dower Street, London.
Group International showsedit
1971 - Indian Artists at Belarus and Moscow.
1985 - Thirty contemporary Indian Artists at Habana, Cuba.
1985 - Contemporary Indian Art show at the National Museum Mexico City, Mexico.
1985 - Second Asian Art show, Fukuoka, Japan.
1985 - Indian Printmaking, Festival of India, USA.
1986 - Sixth biennale de beau Art, Beaumont, France.
1986 - Third Asian Art Biennale, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
1986 - Inaugural exhibition of the National Museum of Modern Art, Seoul, South Korea.
1986 - Sixth International Triennale, New Delhi, India.
1987 - Ninth International Biennale de São Paulo, Brazil.
1993 - Nine Indian Artists CCA Gallery, New York.
1994 - Indian printmaking show, Maltwood Art Museum & Gallery Victoria, British Columbia.
1994 - Indian Contemporary Art Show, Gallery Maya, Hong Kong
1995 - Heads and faces - an exhibition by Gallery Maya, Visual Art Centre, Hong Kong.
1995 - 'Save the children' auction by Sothebys, Bombay.
1996 - Indian Contemporary Art show, Nagai Garo, Tokyo, Japan
1996 - 32 Contemporary Indian artists - exhibition and auction by Christies, London.
1996 - Women in Indian Art, by The Gallery, Visual Art Centre, Hong Kong.
1997 - Auction of Indian Contemporary Art by Christies, London.
Referencesedit
^ ab"Artist Yusuf Arakkal passes away at 71". Hindustan Times. 4 October 2016. Retrieved 31 January 2019.
^"yarakkal.com". yarakkal.com. Retrieved 24 November 2021.
^"Noted Kerala artist Yusuf Arakkal dies at 71". indianexpress.com. 4 October 2016. Retrieved 24 November 2021.
^ ab"Yusuf Arakkal: Yusuf Arakkal, renowned artist, passes away at 71 | Bengaluru News". Times of India. 5 October 2016. Retrieved 24 November 2021.
^Dhanaraj, Ruth (4 November 2022). "The definitive Yusuf Arakkal collection goes on display in Bengaluru". The Hindu.
^Dhanaraj, Ruth (10 January 2023). "Yusuf Arakkal's Christ series on display for the first time in Bengaluru". The Hindu.
^"Portrait of a humanist". Deccan Herald. 23 October 2022.
^"A burst of creative energy". Deccan Herald. 8 January 2023.
^Ramdev, Darshana (5 October 2016). "Yusuf Arakkal: Every creative act is Godly". Deccan Chronicle.
^"How artist Yusuf Arakkal, who passed away on 4 October, shaped the art scene in Bengaluru". Firstpost. 4 October 2016.