Born in 1940 in Kerala, India, VISWANADHAN belongs to the Vishwakarma caste, which is comprised of traditional artisans skilled in architecture, sculpture and painting. His father introduced him to idol carving and mandala creation. After graduating from the Government College of Arts and Crafts in Madras in 1965, the artist distanced himself from western art to reconnect with his Indian roots, revisiting the geometric motifs of his childhood. In 1966, he co-founded the Cholamandal Artists’ Village in Madras and later travelled to Europe. His 1970 solo exhibition at Galerie de France in Paris was a pivotal moment in his career. He has won notable awards, including the Cagnes-sur-Mer Palette d’or Prize in 1971. VISWANADHAN’s works have been exhibited globally, and they are part of prestigious collections, including those of Paris’s Musée National d’Art Moderne and Centre Pompidou as well as the Birla Academy of Art and Culture, Kolkata, and the National Gallery of Modern Art, New Delhi.