Krishna Setty CS: A Visionary Artist, Social Activist, and Agent of Change through Visual Art

Bengaluru: Krishna Setty CS is a name that resonates with the essence of artistic versatility, social activism, and unwavering commitment to societal transformation. Born in 1952 in Thirthahalli, Shimoga District, Karnataka, India, Setty has crafted a distinguished career spanning over five decades, leaving an indelible mark on the world of visual art. Beyond his artistic prowess, he stands out as an agent of societal change through his profound social concern and service. This write-up delves into the life and contributions of Krishna Setty, highlighting his remarkable journey as an artist and social activist, while also emphasising his role as an instrument of change through visual art.

A testament to his resilience and the transformative power: Setty's journey into the world of art is marked by extraordinary determination. He began his career as a hotel waiter, facing the everyday challenges of life with unwavering resolve. His early years were marked by hard work and dedication, and it was during this time that he nurtured his passion for the arts. This humble beginning serves as a testament to his resilience and the transformative power of art in elevating one's life trajectory.

National Diploma with distinction: His pursuit of artistic excellence commenced at the University College of Fine Arts, Davangere, where he pursued Fine Arts and achieved a National Diploma with distinction. This early commitment to the arts laid the foundation for his subsequent endeavours as an artist, critic, organiser, and administrator. His educational pursuit was further enriched by a scholarship from the Lalith Kala Academi, which allowed him to undertake extensive research in Graphics at Garhi Studios in New Delhi. This period of rigorous exploration expanded his artistic horizons and honed his skills, setting the stage for his remarkable career.

Imprisonment for 14 months: While Krishna Setty's artistic accomplishments are noteworthy, his life story takes a remarkable turn when we consider his role as a social activist. In 1975, during the Emergency in India, Setty found himself on the front lines of the JP Movement, a mass protest against the autocratic rule imposed by the government of the time. His participation in this movement, driven by his deep-seated commitment to democratic principles and social justice, led to his imprisonment for 14 months. This period of incarceration stands as a testament to his unwavering dedication to the ideals of freedom, justice, and democracy, even in the face of adversity.

Art Director at Clarion Advertising Services and Managing Director of Vinyas Advertising: Setty's social commitment and service-oriented approach came to the forefront during his tenure in the advertising industry, where he held positions such as Art Director at Clarion Advertising Services and Managing Director of Vinyas Advertising, Bangalore. These roles not only showcased his creative talents but also introduced him to the realm of communication and the power of visual imagery in shaping public perceptions. It was during this time that Setty began to recognise the potential of art as a tool for conveying messages, raising awareness, and driving social change.

A gallery within the prison walls: One of the most striking aspects of Setty's social concern is his involvement in programs like the Tihar Jail fest. Here, he ventured beyond traditional artistic spaces to bring the transformative power of art to the lives of inmates. His initiative in establishing an art school and a gallery within the prison walls provided a platform for incarcerated individuals to express themselves creatively and find a sense of purpose through art. This endeavour not only offered a therapeutic outlet for the inmates but also challenged societal stereotypes about rehabilitation and redemption. Setty's commitment to this cause demonstrates his belief in the redemptive potential of art and its ability to break down barriers and transform lives.

Chairman of the Central Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi: Setty's impact extended beyond the confines of the prison system. He served as the administrator and Chairman of the Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi, and Karnataka Lalithkala Academy. In these influential roles, he played a pivotal part in shaping the direction of artistic and cultural initiatives. His involvement in the Apex Committee of NGMA and as a jury member of the National Film Awards further solidified his position as a thought leader in the artistic sphere. Through these roles, Setty worked tirelessly to create platforms for emerging artists, advocate for the recognition of diverse artistic voices, and promote art as a means of cultural enrichment and social cohesion.

Art as a tool for enriching lives and fostering cultural understanding: Krishna Setty's influence was not limited to the visual arts alone; it extended to the literary realm as well. He authored several art-related books and served as an art critic for various publications. His writings provided valuable insights into the world of art, making it more accessible to a broader audience. This educational aspect of his work underscored his commitment to art as a tool for enriching lives and fostering cultural understanding.

Inspired countless individuals to embark on their own creative paths: Furthermore, Setty's dedication to sharing artistic knowledge and experiences found expression in the realm of television and documentary productions. He produced and directed various art-related television programs, educational serials, and documentaries. These initiatives showcased his commitment to democratizing art education and bringing the beauty of visual art to every corner of society. Through these endeavours, he not only celebrated the artistic journey but also inspired countless individuals to embark on their own creative paths.

Honorary Member of the Russian Academy of Arts, Moscow: In addition to his numerous accolades and achievements, Krishna Setty CS holds the rare honour of being elected as an Honorary Member of the Russian Academy of Arts, Moscow. He is only the third individual from India to receive this prestigious recognition in the 265-year history of the academy. This distinction underscores the international recognition of his artistic contributions and further solidifies his status as a global ambassador of Indian visual art.

Jury member of the Bangladesh International Biennale: Setty's commitment to the arts and his unwavering dedication to societal betterment are exemplified by his role as a jury member of the Bangladesh International Biennale. His participation in this international art event showcases his commitment to fostering cross-cultural dialogue and promoting artistic exchange on a global scale.

Fellow of the Ministry of Culture: Moreover, Krishna Setty CS is a fellow of the Ministry of Culture, a testament to his contributions to the cultural and artistic heritage of India. This fellowship recognises his significant role in preserving and promoting the rich tapestry of Indian art.

Solo exhibition at Rashtrapati Bhavan: Another remarkable milestone in Setty's career was his solo exhibition at Rashtrapati Bhavan, the official residence of the President of India. This prestigious exhibition showcased his artistic prowess and cemented his status as a distinguished artist of national importance. It is a testament to his ability to captivate audiences and elevate the cultural discourse of the nation through his visual art.

Trustee of Bharat Bhavan, Bhopal: Additionally, Krishna Setty CS serves as a trustee of Bharat Bhavan, Bhopal, further highlighting his commitment to the promotion and preservation of Indian art and culture. This role underscores his dedication to fostering a vibrant artistic landscape in India.

A testament to the transformative power of art and its capacity: In conclusion, Krishna Setty CS is a testament to the transformative power of art and its capacity to shape society for the better. His multi-faceted career as an artist, critic, organiser, administrator, and writer exemplifies a lifelong dedication to the arts and culture. His tireless efforts to bring art to marginalised communities, incarcerated individuals, and the broader public highlight his unwavering social concern and commitment to service. Setty's legacy serves as a reminder of the profound impact that one individual can have in using visual art as a catalyst for positive change in society. Through his life's work, he has not only enriched the world of art but has also left an enduring mark on the fabric of society itself, both nationally and internationally. His journey, from being a hotel waiter to becoming a global icon in the world of art and social activism, is a testament to the enduring power of passion, resilience, and the arts to drive meaningful change in the world.

KRISHNA SETTY CS
Artist, art critic, organiser and writer
Former Administrator and Chairman, Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi & Chairman, Karnataka Lalithakala Academy, a TED talker.

Born in 1952 at Thirthahalli, Shimoga District, Karnataka, India
 Studied Fine Arts and awarded National Diploma with distinction from University College of Fine Arts, Davangere.
 Under took Extensive Research during 1981- 82 in Graphics at Garhi Studios, New Delhi under Lalith Kala Academi’s scholarship.
 Obtained Master's Degree in Literature from Mysore University.
 Postgraduate Diploma in Public Relations from Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan
 Worked as Lecturer in Fine Arts between 1977 - 80 at Govt. School of Arts & Crafts(now University College of Visual Art), Davangere.
 Worked as Art Director, Clarion Advertising Services between 1980-85.
 Worked as Managing Director of Vinyas Advertising, Bangalore, 1985-86
 As Senior Manager, headed Public Relations Dept at BEML Limited, KGF.

Major Awards


• Elected Honorary Member of Russian Academy of Arts, Moscow, a rare honour and the 3rd person from India to get this recognition.
• Vincent Van Gogh Award, instituted by Vincent Art Gallery
• Raja Ravivarma Award 2017
• Karnataka State Government’s Highest Award for Visual Arts “Venkatappa Award” for the year 2020
• Rajeev Gandhi ‘Rashtreeya Rathna’ National Award from National Integration Council, New Delhi.
• Karnataka Rajyothsava Award – 2003 from Govt. of Karnataka.
• Karnataka Lalitha Kala Academy’s Award – 2002
• Certificate of merit in All India Jamini Roy Centenary Exhibition-1987, Kolkata, Juried by M.F Husain.
• Gorur Prathishtana’s Gorur Award
• Vishveshvarayya Literary Award for Best Art Book of the Decade.
• Sahyadri Prashasthi from Sahyadri Sangha, Bangalore
• Traffic Police Exhibition Award for Painting
• Mysore Dasara Award 1975
• Institution Of Translation Studies, Bangalore
• Mayura Prashasthi from Surve Cultural Academy 2005
• Kala Chethana Prashasthi from Gadag-2006.
• ‘Upadhyaaya Samman’ for contributions to the art field
• Karnataka Shilpakala Academy’s Suvarna Karnataka Gaurava-2007.
• Karnataka Lalith Kala Academy’s Suvarna Karnataka Gourava-2008.
• ‘Bharatha Vikasa Rathna’ National Award-2011
• Halbhavi National Award ‘Kuncha Kalashri ' instituted by Govt of Karnataka -2014
• Kala Tapasvi Award 2018.
• Rashtreeya Swasti Samman, National award 2019 from Kalavrit Nyas, Ujjain
• Vasavi Excellence Award for lifetime achievement in 2022.

Major Exhibitions
 Participated in the Festival of India, USA during 1985-86, and the same works were exhibited at 17 prominent Galleries of the USA, including California, New York, Los Angeles, Texas and Pennsylvania.
 Held a solo show at Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi for 3 months in 2019, which is a rare honour for an artist
 In 1988, exhibited in a group show at Manchester, UK.
 In 2001, participated in an international Graphics Exhibition held at Municipal Gallery, Poland.
 In 2002, participated in an international exhibition held in the Philippines.
 Participated in Bharath Bhavan’s International Biennale, Bhopal.
 Exhibited works in First Print Biennale-India in 2018 in the Pioneers of Printmaking Section
 Participated in many Central Lalith Kala Academi’s National Exhibitions; Rashtriya Kala Melas; Karnataka Lalith Kala Academy Exhibitions, etc.
 Participated in various group shows held at New Delhi, Hyderabad, Madras, Bhuvaneshwar, Bombay, Goa, Udaipur, Lucknow and other major cities.
 Held solo exhibitions eighteen times in Bangalore, Chennai, New Delhi, including at Rashtrapati Bhavan(2019), Bharat Bhavan, Bhopal, NGMA, Bangalore.
 Participated in Karnataka Kala Yaathre Travelling Exhibition in 1984-85 and toured all over Karnataka
 Participated in Chitra Yaathre Travelling Show conducted by Karnataka Lalithkala Academy all over Karnataka
 Participated in many Group Shows in Bangalore and other places on various occasions
 Participated in many International Online Shows, including Lalit Kala Akademi and Sanskar Bharati.

Commissioned Work
• 10 x 30 feet metal mural for Vijaya Bank Head Office, Bangalore.

Major Art Camps
• International Artists Camp, Jaipur 2014
• National Art Camp, Srinagar,2013
• Camp Director for International Artists’ Camp, Mudubidri, 2014
• International Artists’ Camp organised by TellusArt, Sweden, 2015
• National Art Camp by SCZCC at Panaji, Goa, 2013
• Karnataka Lalithakala Academy’s Veteran Artists’ Camp, 2015
• Veterans Camp by Bangalore Art Foundation
• Artists Camp at Nandi Hills, conducted by Karnataka Lalitha Kala Academy.
• In 1985, Graphic Workshop conducted by Mr Krishna Reddy of New York University.
• Convenor, National Artists’ Camp at Hampi University by Samskara Bharathi.
• Camp Director, National Art Camp organised by Vincent Art Gallery, Bangalore
• In 1989, represented Karnataka and South India in All India Artists Camp at Haridwar (UP), conducted by UP Govt.
• Participated in a workshop on Painting on 50 Buses, conducted by the Transport Department of Karnataka
• Participated in many national and international art camps conducted by various organisations

Key Positions
• Presently Trustee of Bharat Bhavan, Bhopal. Appointed by the Government of Madhya Pradesh
• Administrator and Chairman, Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi, appointed by the Ministry of Culture, Govt of India
• International Jury Member for Bangladesh Biennale 2018

• Chairman, Steering Committee, Print Biennale India 2018

▪️︎ At present Commissioner of 3rd Print Biennale India
• Chairman, Karnataka Lalithkala Academy, appointed by Govt of Karnataka

• Member of Apex Committee of NGMA and Advisory member, National Gallery of Modern Art, nominated by Ministry of Culture, Govt of India

• Member of All India Board of Studies, All India Council for Technical Education(AICTE)


• Member of Tagore Fellowship Committee, Ministry Of Culture, Govt of India
• Jury member of National Film Awards 2015


• Academic Council member, Kannada University, Hampi


• Academic Council Member, Karnataka Janapada Vishwavidyalaya


• Member of all the Zonal Cultural Centres of India under the Chairmanship of respective Governors of the states


• At present Executive Board Member and Finance Committee Member, Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi

• Film Censor Board Member, nominated by Govt. Of India in 1991-92.
• Govt. Of Karnataka nominated him 4 times as a member of Karnataka Lalith Kala Academy, which is a very rare honour in the art community.
• 1999-2001 President, Karnataka Drushya Kalasahithya Parishath.
• President, Karnataka Kalamela, which conducts art fairs.
• Founder Member and President, Sanchalana Karnataka, an art body.
• Visiting Faculty for Post Graduate Studies at Hampi University
• Visiting Professor for Post Graduate Students at SALA, Mysore Open University
• State Govt nominated him as Governing Council Member of Karnataka Chitrakala Parishath, Bangalore
• Governing Council Member of University College of Fine Arts, Davangere
• Governing Council Member for SALA, Open University, Mysore
• Artist Selection Committee Member for Gulbarga Doordarshan
• Juried many national and state-level exhibitions
• At present President, Dakahavisa, alumnus of Davangere Art College.
• Curator for Art Track- World Culture Festival - 2016, New Delhi, organised
by Art Of Living

Social

State Secretary of ABVP during 1975-1978

Detained under MISA during Emergency and in Jail for 14 months.

Elected President of Students’ Action Committee, Davangere 1974
Many postgraduate art students have done dissertations on Krishna Setty at Hampi University.
Scholar Mrs Shwetha Surendra of Hampi University has done a PhD on the life, works and contributions of Krishna Setty
Karnataka State Government’s Dept. of Information and Publicity has produced a documentary film on him in 2013-14

Written Books on art under the titles:
 Chithra–Chiththa(Awarded Best art book of the decade 2000),
 Varnaavarana
 Drushya Kale Endarenu
 Expressionism
 Lohaphalaka Maanthrika (LP Anchan)
 MTV Acharya
 Yusuf Arakkal

Contributions
• 1988 to 1996 Art Critic for Kannada Prabha daily.
• From 1996 to 2002 Art Critic for Praja Vani daily.
• Also wrote several art criticism columns for Deccan Herald English daily.
• Member of the editorial panel of ‘Sankula’ art magazine.
• Edited many books for Karnataka Lalitha Kala Academy and was editor of the ‘Janapriya Male’ book series.
• 2 times Director of the workshops for state-level art writers held at Davangere and Raichur by Karnataka Lalitha Kala Academy.
• Organised Karnataka Kalamela seven times in Bangalore, in various positions.
• Convenor for painting workshop for 50 Buses on Soujanya Masa, conducted by Transport Dept, Govt. Of Karnataka.
• Written Exhibition Catalogues in both English and Kannada for many artists.
• Presented research papers in many seminars on art at International, national and state levels.
• Contributed articles both in English and Kannada for many important journals and books.
• Conducted Art Appreciation Course at many places in Karnataka.
• Conducted many Art Camps for artists
• Contributing Creative Kannada copywriting and Kannada Translations for the advertising industry since 1982

TV/Documentary Productions
• Produced and directed 16-episode serial Chithraantharanga (art appreciation) for Bangalore Doordarshan.
• Produced and directed TV serial ‘Jeevana Chakra’ for Suprabhaatha Channel.
• Produced and directed TV Serial ‘Mareechike’ for Bangalore Doordarshan.
• Produced and directed TV Serial “ Navilugari”
• Directed many Educational TV serials for Edusat Programme, DSERT, Govt. Of Karnataka
• Directed and produced 4 short films for Kannada & Culture Dept. Govt. Of Karnataka
• Produced a documentary on “Mysore Traditional painting” for Karnataka Lalithakala Academy.
• Conducted many Quiz Programs for Doordarshan
• Interviewed many artists for Doordarshan telecast

Collections
• His paintings are in the collections of many national and international collections, including Manchester, UK, Denmark, USA, Switzerland, Poland, Philippines, and Sweden.
• Central Lalith Kala Akademi, New Delhi, Bharath Bhavan, Bhopal, Karnataka Lalithakala Academy and in many private collections including Jawaharalal Nehru Centre, etc.

Address:
C. S. KRISHNA SETTY
‘Studio Krishna Setty’
754, 3rd stage, BEML Layout
Rajarajeswari Nagar
Bangalore – 560098
Mobile: 098450 59660
e-mail: cskrishnasetty@gmail.com