The beginning of modernism in Indian sculpture can
be traced to its adaptation of western academic
art traditions in the early 20th century.
Sculptors who trained in the academic realist
style at British art schools worked on secular
subjects in a departure from ancient and
medieval Indian norms, where myths and deities
formed the major themes. Sculptures were now
created to cater to the demands of the newly
emerging upper and middle social classes. The
innovation of Indian sculptors can be seen in
the intense and exaggerated realism during this
period.
The next phase of sculptural development is
represented by artists such as D.P Roy Chowdhury,
Fanindranath Bose and V. P. Karmarkar who were
influenced by the dignified and monumental works
of the French sculptor Rodin. It was only in the
1940’s and 1950’s that Indian modern sculpture
developed a unique indigenous language; best
represented by the works of Ram Kinker Baij. He
looked afresh at both western and traditional
Indian norms, amalgamating them in a modern
context. In a distinctive style, he experimented
with unconventional material such as concrete,
gravel and cement, looking to the rural
landscape and tribal communities for subjects.
The 1950’s were marked by experimentations with
wood and stone, in which the essential character
of the solid block was retained. In the next two
decades, sculptors utilized a variety of
techniques to create new relationships between
material, theme and form. The sculptures
celebrated the spirit of humanism and their work
was also infused with a sense of the spiritual
that is reminiscent of classical sculptural
styles. The search for pure form induced by
European aesthetics added a new and interesting
dimension. Experiments with unusual material,
sometimes in combination with traditional
material, had intriguing results. Apart from the
classical traditions, folk and tribal sources
had a profound effect on the artistic
imagination.
The sculptures in the NGMA collection by artists
such as Ramkinkar Baij, Debiprasad Roy Chowdhury,
Sankho Chaudhuri, Pradosh Dasgupta, Piloo
Pochkhanawalla, Adi Davierwala, Chintamani Kar,
Amarnath Sehgal, Dhanraj Bhagat, Meera Mukherjee,
Piraji Sagara, Raghav Kaneria, Nagji Patel,
Himmat Shah, K.G. Subramanyan, Balbir Singh Katt,
Latika Katt, Jeram Patel, Nagji Patel, Jagdish
Swaminathan, Satish Gujral, Mrinalini Mukherjee,
Madan Lal, Sabari Roy Chowdhury, KS
Radhakrishnan, S Nandagopal, PV Janakiram,
Ravinder Reddy, NN Rimzoh, Pushpamala N, Valasan
Kolleri, Prithpal Singh Ladi, Karl Antao and
Sudarshan Shetty narrate the story of the
history of modern sculptures in India in a
holistic way.
The NGMA’s sculpture collection is amongst the
richest in the country. The Gallery is further
enhancing the collection with the acquisition of
contemporary works that blur the boundaries
between sculpture and installation.
Sankho Chaudhuri
Toilet, Stone, 67 cms
Pradosh Dasgupta
‘In Bondage’, 63 X 64 X 103(H) cm Replaced
A M Davierwalla
Icarus, Iron, 29 X 37 X 14(H) cm
Chintamoni Kar
Flight, Mahogony wood, 111.8 X 29 X 21.5 cms
P Poochkhanawala
Erosion, Miled steel, 65 X 42 X 154(H)cm
Dhanraj Bhagat
Bull, Wood, 58 X 23 X 38(H)cm
Valsan Kolleri
Sculpture, Bronze, 35.2 X 26.3 X 26.2 cm
P V Janakiram
King, Brass sheet and metal, 53.5 X 51 X 21(H)cm
N N Rimzon
Man in a chalk circle, Painted fibreglass, 90 X 60 X 90.5(H)cm
Mrinalini Mukherjee
Basanti, Hemp, 95 X 75 X 215(H) cm
Himmat Shah
Head on Board, Terracotta, 40.5 X 33.5 X 19.5(H)cm
Meera Mukherjee
Spirit of Daily Work, Bronze, 84 X 31.5 X 172(H)cm
Latika Katt
Jeram Patel Eating paan, Bronze, 39 X 37 X 40(H) cm
Balbir Singh Katt
Nadeshwar, Black marble, 122 X 91.5 X 221(H)cm
S. Nandagopal
Krishna with Cows, Copper, brass and enamel, 104 X 23 X 88cm
Ravinder Reddy
The Girl with flower, Fibreglass, 43 X 36 X 182(H)cm
K S Radhakrishnan
Figure II, Bronze, 16 X 13 X 42(H)cm
Sarbari Roy Chowdhury
Siddheshwari, Bronze, 26 X 34 X 29(H)cm
Madan Lal
Untitled, Marble, 83 X 72 X 18(H)cm
Satish Gujral
Tree of life, Burnt wood, 58 X 19 X 144(H) cm
Nagji Patel
Weight- 01, Granite and Brass, 38 X 23 X 13(H)cm
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