Sculptures of the contemporary (Modern) Indian Sculptors

Q1. Evaluate the artistic qualities of the following contemporary (Modern)

Indian
Sculptures in about 100-150 words each.
(i) Triumph of Labour (ii) Santhal Family
(iii) Cries Un-Heard (iv) Ganesha

Based on the following parameters:

(a) Title of the Sculpture (b)Name of artist (Sculptor)
(c)Period (d) Medium
(e) Circa (f) Collection
(g) Description (Subject-matter)
Ans. 1(i) Name- Triumph of Labour Sculptor- Devi Prasad Roy Chowdhury
Period- Contemporary (Modern) Medium- Cement casting
Circa- 1954 A.D. Collection-NGMA, New Delhi
Description: The outstanding cement sculpture of the group, ‘Triumph of
Labour’ would ever remain an unparalleled example of sculpture. In its
original form, this idol was made of bronze on the beach of Madras (now in
Chennai), by Devi Prasad Roy Chowdhury in 1954 A.D. Its one proto type has
been set up at the main gate of ‘National Gallery of Modern Art’, Jaipur
house, New Delhi. In this idol, the sculpture has shown the four figures in
the group engaged in the formidable task of moving a massive rock with the
help of wooden logs are perfect anatomical studies of men engaged in a
herculean task requiring maximum physical effort. They are muscular
labourers upper part of their bodies has been shown naked and lion part has
been covered only with a small lungi (a piece of cloth which is wrapped
round the waist). Their heads are also covered with a piece of cloth. In the
long run, these labourers have become successful in performing their work.
The sculpture has put in a masterly fashion, the difficult reverse movement
which is a unique feature of the sculpture. The sculpture shows a rare
quality of dynamic mobility. This very moment is the basic moral of this idol
that is Triumph of labour or the Victory of Labour.

Ans. 1(ii) Name- Santhal Family Sculptor- Ramkinkar Baij

Period- Contemporary (Modern) Medium- Cement and Concrete
 Circa- 1938 A.D. Collection- Shanti Niketan, West Bengal
Description: Ramkinkar Baij was born in a poor family in Bankura District of
West Bengal. He had great qualities to be a painter and sculptor.Around
1930, the Santhal families migrated from Santhal Pargana in Bihar in search
of work and often spent a day at Shantiniketan. Rmamkinkar modeled them
in clay. This he turned into that famous sculpture the ‘Santahl Family’. This
sculpture is a complex composition with two figures standing side by side, a
dog, a child sitting in a basket hanging from a pole. The woman is walking
beside the man. She has a load on her head. A dog accompanies the man. It
is an entire family in migration. It symbolizes labour migration. This is a
harsh real picture of a family forced to leave their land by hunger. The
sculpture follows no set style but the style of the rough textured land of
gravel and red clay of Shantiniketan. The road side composition carries the
dynamism of the road. Ramkinkar’s sculptures reflect his concern and
feeling for the life of that simple people around him. None of his outdoor
sculptures are placed on pedestal to establish their close earthy
connections.

Ans. 1(iii) (Students write the appropriate answer for this question yourself)

Ans. 1(iv) (Students write the appropriate answer for this question yourself)

Q.2 Write a note on the following contemporary (Modern) Indian

Sculptors.
(i) Devi Prasad Roychowdhury (ii) Ramkinker Vaij
(iii) Amarnath Sahgal (iv) P.V. Jankiram

Ans. 2(i) (Students write the appropriate answer for this question yourself)

Ans. 2(ii) (Students write the appropriate answer for this question yourself)

Ans. 2(iii) (Students write the appropriate answer for this question yourself)

Ans. 2(iv) (Students write the appropriate answer for this question yourself)