Yusuf Arakkal, Indian painter, Died at 70

  Artists

Yusuf Arakkal was born in 1945 at Chavakkad, Kerala and died on October 4, 2016, in Bangalore.

He was a Malayali painter based in Bangalore, India.

Both of Yusuf Arakkal parents died when he was young.

Arakkal had to leave the comforts of his house behind, the boy Yusuf left for Bangalore, lonely but with a passion to become a painter.

In term he had to face many hardships that he faced at Bangalore honed the artist in him and sharpened his sensibility.

Yusuf Arakkal 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.

Before his death, Yusuf 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 award was instituted in memory of the great Florentine statesman Lorenzo de Medici.

Yusuf produced a large collection of miscellaneous works consisting of drawings, paintings, sculptures, murals, paper works, prints, and writing.

Yusuf Arakkal won several  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.

Many books and articles published on the creative world of Yusuf Arakkal in different languages.

Yusuf Arakkal passed away at 70 years old.