"From nothing everything starts. From a point it becomes a line then a form then solid and then nothing again. Space expresses itself as solid forms." --- A. V. Ilango. Ilango is considered the most sought-after contemporary artist. His creations in the initial stage was very much inspired by rural backgrounds. The unerasable impression is unavoidably visible through his paintings. To him art, culture, religion and rituals are the interlacing components of Indian daily life. There always exists a fine line between Indian aesthetics and Hindu rituals. Symbolism in traditional, visual and performing arts, depict the classical arts. It bears more appealing aspect for the broached and the learned. At the same time folk arts in incorporated by all in festivities. It is A. V. Ilango who has traced the bovine form and symbol as an idiom. These symbols and forms are very closely corresponding to man from prehistoical to the modern era.
But he is the man who has always attempted to explore different themes. During the early eighties, he used to portray darkness and obscurity of the urban realities of a bustling metropolis. Problems and poverty altogether stirred him as a person as well as an artist. Through his imaginative creations, the heaved priorities of urban living in South India in the form of cycles, rickshaws, lorries, bullock carts and swanky automobiles with shoving crowds are reflected. Acknowledging his work, the British Council Division of Madras nominated his as the artist for a Visitorship Programme in November 1992 and in 1997 Orient Longman, requested his participation to illustrate their prestigious publication, "Silapathikaram and Manimekalai".
A.V. Ilango was born on 17th March 1950 in Gobichettipalayam, Tamil Nadu, India. After obtaining his graduation in B.Sc. (Hons) in Mathematics in 1971 and M.Sc. in Mathematics in 1973 from Bangalore University, he started his career as a Professor of Maths. Side by side he also contributed his talent in painting. As a freelance artist he has exhibited his paintings in solo exhibitions like-- Alliance Francaise de Madras 1980; Pandian Hotel, Madurai in the same year; Alliance Francaise de Madras 1984; Alliance Francaise de Bangalore 1985; CP Art Centre, Madras 1985; Jehangir Art Gallery, Bombay 1986; Jehangir Art Gallery, Bombay 1989; Grindlays Art Gallery, Madras in the same year; Chola Art Gallery, Madras 1990; Grindlays Art Gallery, Madras 1991; British Council Division, Madras 1994; Common Wealth Institute, London 1995.
A.V. Ilango has also taken part in group exhibitions, including-- Russian Cultural Centre, Madras 1984; Alliance Francaise de Bangalore 1984; Sakshi Art Gallery, Madras 1987; Temple of Fine Arts, Malaysia & Singapore 1992. Some of his sponsored exhibitions include -- Exhibition at the "Fifth World Tamil Conference", Madurai 1980; 1982 - State Art Exhibition sponsored by the Lalit Kala Academy of Madras, in Bombay & New Delhi; 1984-85 --- Art Exhibition of All India Tourists Trade Fair, Madras; 1981-84 -- Art Exhibition sponsored by Tamil Nadu, Ovia Nunkalai Kuzhu of Madras; 1990 - National Exhibition, New Delhi; 1993 - Sixth National Kala Mela sponsored by Lalit Kala Academy of New Delhi in Madras. Ilango`s creations also decorate the Tamil Nadu Ovia Nunkalai Kuzhu Govt. Museum; National Art Gallery, Madras; National Gallery of Art, Delhi and Lalit Kala Academy, Delhi. In 2002 his focal point was based on a string of drawings of Balamurali Krishna`s writings.
