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The artist Professor Madathilparampil Mammen Ninan has a Christian heritage that dates back to AD 52. St Thomas, the disciple of Jesus came to the coast of Malabar and preached the gospel essentially to the intellectuals of the period, who were Brahmins. He established seven and a half churches (for 75 families) before he was martyred in Madras at Mylapore, India. The Mar Thoma Church of Malankara is one of the churches that claim this heritage. During the course of history this indigenous church developed a subculture within the wider context of the Indian culture. Professor Ninan was born in a Mar Thoma Syrian Christian family in Kerala, India. He completed his Bachelors Degree (from the Travancore University, India) and Masters Degree (from Bombay University, India) in Physics; and taken his Doctor of Philosophy Degree from the University of Khartoum, Sudan, Africa. His profession took him to several countries in the world. These include (Haile Selassie's) Ethiopia; (Kwame Nkrumah's) Ghana, Jamaica; (Republic and Later People's Democratic Republic of ) Sudan; (North) Yemen Arab Republic and India and United States. He retired as the Principal (President) of the Hindustan Academy of Engineering and Applied Sciences of the University of Bangalore, India. The art. Professor Ninan met Jesus in a personal way while he was in the Sudan through the activities of the Sudan Interior Mission. These paintings were done in Sanaa, Yemen Arab Republic during the subsequent period of intense personal experience. It is an expression of his understanding of Jesus in the context of his heritage, multicultural experiences and his life search for a philosophy of life, for truth and for salvation. Hindu and Budhist concepts of Brahman (Advaita and Dwaita Philosophies), Tapas, Mukthi, and Marga form the background of his intellectual understandings. Social understanding of the message of Jesus was understood in the context of the Indian Varna System (caste system) and especially of the Kerala Janmi System (Land Lord, Serf system). In the midst of socio-political disappointments and disillusionment Jesus came as the Only Way. It is these that make the style and presentation of Professor Ninan's art unique. Indian, Arab and African cultural influence can be seen in his paintings. He was instrumental in the establishment of the International Christian Fellowship and Kerala Christian Fellowship in Sanaa, Yemen Arab Republic; the Sudan Pentecostal Churches and Sudan Theological College in Juba, Sudan.
This collection of paintings were painted over the years 1975-76 and were exhibited in various countries of the world. |