Babu Xavier is an artist whose canvases are set aglow with animism and human sensuality, two aspects that define a good portion of his oeuvre. The subsumed and the hidden, be it in our societal interactions or within the deep recesses of the human psyche, are the subjects of his contemplation, which he manifests through striking human forms and fantastic creatures.      

 

He is known for his gripping colorscapes that express full-blooded reds, vibrant yellows, sparkling blues and soothing greens that seem to fracture and radiate light in the most enchanting ways, much like a prism. 

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Babu trained under the renowned painter, J. Panicker, who helped him comprehend the science and subtleties of the visual language in an unconventional but sophisticated manner. This approach did not eschew details but instead used technique to communicate the fleeting and the ineffable in a marked way. This studentship and the experience that came with it led Babu to cultivate and establish a signature style that eventually became a highly recognizable one in the world of Indian art.

 

The wellsprings of his inspiration are varied and many. They include nature, the worlds of science and myth and, most significantly, the mind of the human individual from which originate all of life’s motivations as much as their challenges. The hidden life of the unconscious, where all our human plots are hatched and purposes forged, is this artist’s primary subject of scrutiny and study. This is why the grotesque and the erotic feature prominently in his paintings being as they are intimately intertwined and powerful drivers of human thought and action, even if concealed from the actors themselves. In this he is a psychologist trying to understand the enigma of the human mind using brushes and paints as exploratory tools.

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Babu Xavier hails from the state of Kerala and lives and works in its capital city of Thiruvananthapuram. During the course of an illustrious and critically acclaimed career he has exhibited extensively in India and abroad and participated in reputed events like the International Triennale of Art in New Delhi and the Bharat Bhavan Biennale. He continues to travel around the world holding shows that stir and shake one in equal measure.