Portrait of Surendran Nair (born 1956)

Artist Indrapramit Roy (born 1964)

dated 2025, Mix media on paper
26 x 20 in. (66 x 50.8 cm.)

This evocative portrait of artist Surendran by his artist friend Indrapramit reflects a nuanced fusion of realism and abstraction. It captures not only the likeness but the contemplative presence of the sitter. Executed in mixed media, the work balances precise rendering—especially in the face—with expressive textures and sketchy outlines. The background, an ethereal wash of earthy tones, subtly incorporates ghostlike figures in linear form. It possibly references Nair’s own practice, which is rich in layered mythologies and allegories. The choice of a neutral palette, with warm sienna’s and muted grays, contributes to the intimate and introspective tone of the piece.

Indrapramit Roy, a contemporary Indian artist and faculty member at Fine Arts, MSU, Vadodara, is known for his poetic and textural approach to painting. Trained in printmaking and painting, his practice often explores memory, place, and the metaphysical through layered imagery and atmospheric abstraction. In this portrait, Roy merges his lyrical sensibility with close observational detail, revealing the subject’s inner world. The interplay of finished and unfinished areas—especially the spontaneous pencil drawings in the background—creates a dialogue between the sitter and the artist’s evolving thoughts. Roy’s portrait of Nair is not merely a likeness but a homage, revealing reverence through depth, texture, and gentle restraint.