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{{Short description|Indian artist and painter}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2021}}
{{Use Indian English|date=March 2019}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Laxman Pai
| image = PaiImage.jpg
| imagesize =
| caption =
| birth_date = {{birth date|df=yes|1926|01|21}}
| birth_place = [[Margao]], [[Goa]], [[Portuguese India]]
| death_date = {{death date and age|2021|3|14|1926|1|21|df=y}}
| death_place = [[Dona Paula]], Goa
| restingplace =
| restingplacecoordinates =
| othername =
| occupation = Painter
| yearsactive =
| known for = Contemporary paintings
| spouse = Purnima Pai
| domesticpartner =
| children = 1
| parents =
| website = {{Url|http://laxmanpai.com}}
| awards = [[Padma Bhushan]] [[Padma Shri]] Nehru Award Goa State Award National Award Lalit Kala Akademi Award Mayo Medal [[Gomant Vibhushan]]
}}

'''Laxman Pai''' (21 January 1926 – 14 March 2021) was an Indian artist and painter.<ref name="Christies profile">{{cite web | url=http://www.christies.com/lotfinder/paintings/laxman-pai-goan-village-5539893-details.aspx | title=Christies profile | publisher=Christies The Art People | date=2015 | access-date=20 July 2015}}</ref> He was a principal of the Goa College of Art, a post he held from 1977 to 1987.<ref name="Jay Salian profile">{{cite web | url=http://jaysalian.wikifoundry.com/page/LAXMAN+PAI | title=Jay Salian profile | publisher=Jay Salian | date=2015 | access-date=20 July 2015}}{{self-published source|date=July 2015}}</ref> Pai was a recipient of several awards<ref name="Goa Art Gallery profile">{{cite web | url=http://goaartgallery.com/pai_laxman.htm | title=Goa Art Gallery profile | publisher=Goa Art Gallery | date=2015 | access-date=20 July 2015}}</ref> including India's third highest civilian honour of ''[[Padma Bhushan]]'', awarded by the [[Government of India]].<ref name="Padma Awards">{{cite web |url=http://www.mha.nic.in/sites/upload_files/mha/files/PadmaAwards2018_E_25012018.pdf |title=Padma Awards |publisher=Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India |date=2015 |access-date=25 January 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180126070641/http://www.mha.nic.in/sites/upload_files/mha/files/PadmaAwards2018_E_25012018.pdf |archive-date=26 January 2018 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/laxman-pai-from-liberation-struggle-to-padma-bhushan/articleshow/62657156.cms | title=From Liberation struggle to Padma Bhushan: Laxman Pai | publisher=[[The Times of India]] | work=Gauree Malkarnekar | date=26 January 2018 | access-date=26 January 2018}}</ref>

==Early life==
Pai was born in [[Margao]], [[Goa]], on 21 January 1926.<ref name="Saffron Art profile">{{cite web | url=http://www.saffronart.com/artists/laxman-pai | title=Saffron Art profile | publisher=Saffron Art | date=2015 | access-date=20 July 2015}}</ref><ref name="Blouartinfo profile">{{cite web | url=http://www.blouinartinfo.com/artists/laxman-pai-138662 | title=Blouartinfo profile | publisher=Blouartinfo | date=2015 | access-date=20 July 2015}}</ref> His tryst with art was at his uncle's Mauzo Photo Studio in [[Margao]], where he used to touch up the black and white photographs with paint. In the 1940s, he was actively involved in the [[Goa liberation movement]] for which he was arrested thrice by the Portuguese colonials.<ref name="navhindtimes.in">{{Cite web|last=Times|first=Navhind|date=21 August 2016|title=The artist and his muse – Goa|url=https://www.navhindtimes.in/2016/08/21/magazines/panorama/the-artist-and-his-muse-goa/|access-date=15 March 2021|website=The Navhind Times|language=en-US}}</ref> He was beaten by the Portuguese police after being arrested and for this reason, his parents sent him to the city of [[Bombay]] where he studied at the [[Sir Jamsetjee Jeejebhoy School of Art|Sir J. J. School of Art]] in [[Mumbai]] from 1943 to 1947. He was awarded the Mayo Medal in 1947.<ref name="navhindtimes.in"/><ref name="Saffron Art profile" /><ref name="Biography Laxman Pai">{{cite web | url=http://www.askart.com/artist/Laxman_Pai/11059409/Laxman_Pai.aspx# | title=Biography Laxman Pai | publisher=Ask Art | date=2015 | access-date=20 July 2015}}</ref> Pai offered a [[satyagraha]] outside the [[Margao]] Police Station in 1946.<ref name="timesofindia.indiatimes.com">{{Cite web|last=18 Sep|first=Lisa Monteiro /|last2=2016|last3=Ist|first3=03:44|title=The life and times of Goa’s greatest living artist {{!}} Goa News - Times of India|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/the-life-and-times-of-goas-greatest-living-artist/articleshow/54384922.cms|access-date=15 March 2021|website=The Times of India|language=en}}</ref>

==Career==
Soon after completing his studies, Pai started teaching at the [[Sir Jamsetjee Jeejebhoy School of Art|Sir J. J. School of Art]].<ref name="navhindtimes.in"/> At the same time, he participated in the activities of the [[Bombay Progressive Artists' Group]], although he did not become its member.<ref name="timesofindia.indiatimes.com"/> Pai recalls that once, a nude painting by [[Francis Newton Souza]] was objected to by the then [[Chief Minister]] of [[Bombay State]], [[Morarji Desai]]. Due to Pai's association with Souza, he was demoted. Pai wrote a letter about it to the [[Sir Jamsetjee Jeejebhoy School of Art|Sir J. J. School of Art]] but was told to drop his accusations against the Director. He declined to do so and was expelled as a result.<ref name="navhindtimes.in"/>

Subsequently, he wrote to [[S. H. Raza]] who was then in [[Paris]]. Raza made arrangements for Pai's arrival in Paris. Pai went to [[Paris]] and studied [[fresco]] and [[etching]] there. He studied at the prestigious [[École des Beaux-Arts]] and stayed in Paris for ten years. During his stay in Paris, Pai held ten solo exhibitions in the city.<ref>{{Cite web|last=15 Mar|first=Lisa Monteiro / TNN /|last2=2021|last3=Ist|first3=04:01|title=Artist, Freedom Fighter, Teacher: The Colourful Life Of Pai {{!}} Goa News - Times of India|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/artist-freedom-fighter-teacher-the-colourful-life-of-pai/articleshow/81501243.cms|access-date=15 March 2021|website=The Times of India|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Sothebys - Laxman Pai|url=https://www.sothebys.com/en/buy/auction/2019/modern-and-contemporary-south-asian-art/laxman-pai-untitled-couple|url-status=live|website=Sothebys}}</ref>

He had to his credit more than 110 one-man shows across the globe. His solo exhibitions were held at London, [[Munich]], [[Hanover]], [[Stuttgart]], New York City, [[Bremen]], [[San Francisco]], [[Bangkok]], [[Kuala Lumpur]], [[Singapore]], [[New Delhi]], [[Mumbai]], [[Kolkata]], [[Goa]] and [[São Paulo]].<ref name="navhindtimes.in"/> Pai learnt rosenthal porcelain art in Germany.<ref name="navhindtimes.in"/> He also participated in numerous Biennials in Paris, Tokyo, Sao Paulo.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Laxman Pai : Artist Detail Information|url=https://dhoomimalgallery.com/artist_info.php?id=Nzc=|access-date=15 March 2021|website=dhoomimalgallery.com}}</ref>

Returning to India, he took up the post of the principal of the Goa College of Art in 1977 and served the institution until 1987. He was instrumental in creating the new college campus in Altinho area of Panaji.<ref name="Jay Salian profile" />

==Pai's works==
From 1947 to 1950 Pai was largely inspired by Goan subjects and the concept of Indian miniatures. His initial works speak about the Goan way of life, as can be seen from his paintings depicting the '[[Zambaulim]] ''Shigmo''' or the process of [[feni (liquor)|feni]]-making. Pai was also inspired by ancient [[Ancient Egypt|Egyptian]] sculptures. He listened to music when he painted. His favourites included [[Kumar Gandharv]], [[Bhimsen Joshi]] and [[Kishori Amonkar]].<ref name="navhindtimes.in"/> Pai painted various paintings based on different ragas of Indian classical music. In his works, he gives a visual interpretation to the moods of the music as determined by the vibrations of the notes. His painting series,'Musical Moods' (1965) was inspired by Indian classical ragas.<ref name="timesofindia.indiatimes.com"/> Pai used to also play the [[sitar]] and the [[bansuri]].<ref name="navhindtimes.in"/>

His paintings are on display at Ben and Abby Grey Foundation, [[New York Public Library]], [[Berlin Museum of Decorative Arts|Berlin Museum]], [[Museum of Modern Art, Paris]], [[Madras Museum]], Nagpur Museum, [[National Gallery of Modern Art, New Delhi]], and [[Punjab University, Chandigarh, India|Punjab University]] Museum.<ref name="Jay Salian profile" />

== Personal life ==
Pai married Purnima, whom he had met earlier in Shimla, at the age of 40. The couple had a son. His wife had predeceased him.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Laxman Pai: The Life And Times of An Art Great {{!}}|url=https://goastreets.com/laxmanpai-the-life-and-times-of-goas-most-celebrated-living-artist/#:~:text=When%20talking%20about%20meeting%20his,still%20and%20lost%20in%20thought.|access-date=15 March 2021|website=goastreets.com}}</ref><ref name="timesofindia.indiatimes.com"/>

== Death ==
Pai died on 14 March 2021, at his home in [[Dona Paula]] in Goa. He was aged 95.<ref>{{Cite web|date=15 March 2021|title=Goan artist Laxman Pai passes away at 95|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/musically-equipped-painter-goan-painter-laxman-pai-passed-away-7228321/|access-date=15 March 2021|website=The Indian Express|language=en}}</ref>

==Awards==
*[[Lalit Kala Akademi]] award, three times (1961, 1963, 1972)<ref name="Saffron Art profile" />
*[[Padma Shri]] awards, Government of India (1985)<ref name="Padma Awards" />
*State Award of the [[Government of Goa]]
*Nehru Award (1995)<ref name="Saffron Art profile" />
*[[Gomant Vibhushan Award]], [[Goa]]'s highest civilian award.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.navhindtimes.in/2016/12/10/magazines/zest/laxman-pai-conferred-with-the-gomant-vibhushan-award/|title=Laxman Pai conferred with the Gomant Vibhushan Award|first=Navhind|last=Times|date=9 December 2016}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thegoan.net//laxman-pai-to-be-conferred-with-gomant-vibhushan/22761.html|title=Laxman Pai to be conferred with Gomant Vibhushan|website=The Goan EveryDay}}</ref>
*
*
*[[Padma Bhushan]]<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.mha.nic.in/sites/upload_files/mha/files/PadmaAwards2018_E_25012018.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=25 January 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180126070641/http://www.mha.nic.in/sites/upload_files/mha/files/PadmaAwards2018_E_25012018.pdf |archive-date=26 January 2018 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==See also==
{{Div col|colwidth=30em}}
* [[Sadanand Bakre]]
* [[Syed Haider Raza]]
* [[Francis Newton Souza]]
* [[Akbar Padamsee]]
{{div col end}}
{{portal|India|Art}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Padma Shri Award Recipients in Art}}
{{PadmaBhushanAwardRecipients 2010–19}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Pai, Laxman}}
[[Category:Recipients of the Padma Shri in arts]]
[[Category:1926 births]]
[[Category:Sir Jamsetjee Jeejebhoy School of Art alumni]]
[[Category:Modern painters]]
[[Category:2021 deaths]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian painters]]
[[Category:People from Margao]]
[[Category:Painters from Goa]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Padma Bhushan in arts]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian painters]]
[[Category:20th-century male artists]]
[[Category:21st-century male artists]]
[[Category:Indian male painters]]

Laxman Pai - Revision history

imported>Wikiminds34 at 18:57, 17 March 2021