'Rag Rekha’ Art Exhibition Inaugurated in Chennai, Celebrating the Confluence of Music & Visual Art
Chennai, December 27, 2025: The three-day art exhibition Rag Rekha was inaugurated at the CP Art Centre, Mylapore, offering a soulful confluence of Indian classical music and visual art. The event drew eminent musicians, artists, and art connoisseurs, transforming the venue into a vibrant cultural space celebrating creativity and tradition.
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| (L to R) Dr. Jayakrishnan Unni; Mridangam Maestro Sangita Kalanidhi Padma Vibhushan Sri Umayalpuram Sivaraman; Keshav Venkataraghavan; Y.Gee Mahendran; Lakshmi Raghavan; Sangita Kalanidhi Neyveli R.Santhanagopalan |
The inauguration was presided over by Mridangam Maestro Sangita Kalanidhi Padma Vibhushan Sri Umayalpuram Sivaraman as Chief Guest. Guests of Honour included Sri Y. Gee Mahendra, noted playwright and theatre personality; Sangita Kalanidhi Neyveli Sri R. Santhanagopalan, distinguished Carnatic vocalist; Sri P. Unnikrishnan, acclaimed playback singer and classical musician; and Sri Keshav Venkataraghavan. The occasion also honoured Smt. Lakshmi Raghavan, Founder and Teacher of the Adyar Art Club, and Sri T. S. Raghavan, Managing Trustee of the Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam Charitable Trust and former Chairman of Indian Bank, for their contributions to the arts and culture.
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Rag Rekha presents the evocative works of Dr. Jayakrishnan Unni, an accomplished musician, academician, and visual artist. The exhibition features a striking collection of pencil drawings depicting legendary musicians and dancers from Indian classical traditions. Rendered in graphite on white paper and white pencil on black surfaces, the portraits go beyond physical resemblance to capture inner bhava, rhythmic energy, and meditative stillness. Through refined line work and subtle tonal variations, Dr. Unni translates musical emotion into visual rhythm, inviting quiet contemplation.
Rooted in his long engagement with Carnatic music as both performer and scholar, Dr. Unni’s works reflect years of close observation of artistes on and off the concert stage. Each portrait emerges like a silent raga—imbued with mood, movement, and rasa—allowing viewers to experience music through visual perception.
Speaking at the inauguration, Dr. Jayakrishnan Unni said that Rag Rekha had been a long-cherished dream, now realised as a tribute to the great masters of music who inspired his journey as a musician and continue to guide generations of students.
The inaugural day also featured Carnatic music performances, with a morning concert by Sri Sooryagayathri setting a serene tone, followed by an evening performance by Sri Aishwarya Vidya Raghunath. The musical celebrations continue with a concert by Dr. Jayakrishnan Unni on December 27 and conclude on December 28 with a performance by Sri Sriranjani Tapasya Santhanagopalan.
Open to the public from December 26 to 28, 2025, Rag Rekha invites rasikas, students, and art lovers to experience a rare dialogue between sound and form, where music finds expression through line, texture, and silence.
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