Chapter – 13
SCULPTURES OF CONTEMPORARY (MODERN) INDIAN ARTISTS
Triumph of Labour
Subject Matter:- The monument is symbolic of human spirit that wins
over hardships with united labour. It is a brilliant study of four human
figures with rippling muscles, their personal moment of intense physical
effort, captured for the world to see and appreciate their daily sweat and
labour for livelihood. The sculpture is the focal point of May Day
celebrations as the first one was celebrated here
Description:-
➢ ‘Triumph of Labour’ is an outstanding bronze sculpture made by Devi
Prasad Roy Chowdhury. It has been set up at the main gate of ‘National
Gallery of Modern Art’ Jaipur House, New Delhi.
➢ This work stands amidst the several statues in the Marina, the world’s
second longest beach in Chennai.
➢ In this idol the sculptor has shown the four figures are perfect
anatomical studies of men in different poses trying to move a huge rock
with the help of wooden logs.
➢ The pressure (contraction and extraction) falling on muscles of the
labourers has very beautifully been shown with their entire physical
anatomy.
➢ Their bodies have been shown naked and their waist is wrapped round
with a small lungi ( a Small piece of cloth), and the head is covered with a
piece of cloth.
➢ This statue depicting the dignity and triumph of labour exemplifies the
soul and sweat of a back-breaking effort.
➢ This sculpture has a basic morale ‘Victory of labour’.
Santhal Family
Name : Santhal Family
Painter : Ramkinkar Baij
Medium : Cement and Concreate
Circa :1983A.D.
Period : Modern (Contemporary)
Collection : Shanti Niketan, West
Bengal
Subject Matter:-
Santhal Family is a free-standing
out-door sculpture. It is a depiction
of a tribal peasant family- a man, a
woman, children and a dog.
➢ The sculpture ‘Santhal Family’ is made by Ramkinker Baij with cement
and concrete in 1938 and is established in the pavilion of Shantiniketan,
West Bengal.
➢ Four figures has been shown in this Santhal family.
➢ One man is shown lifting a ‘bahangi’ (a load carrying bamboo basket) on
his shoulders. A child is sitting on the front basket.
➢ A woman is walking beside the man. She has a goods on her head and
holding a child on to the left side of her body with her left arm. A lively
dog walks along happily.
➢ The entire family is shown migrating. It symbolises labour migration.
➢ The strong movements are finely contrasted with the stillness of its
surroundings. The figures are one and a half times larger than life,
➢ This sculpture brings to life the primitive people, migrating towards a
new destination, leaving behind their home in search of work. This is
harsh real picture of a family forced to leave their land by hunger.
➢ Everyone is carrying a part of their little belongings in their hands and
on their heads.
➢ The work has expressionistic quality as well as, in capturing the feeling
of contentment, togetherness and joy of daily life.
‘Cries Unheard’– A Sculpture
Name : Cries Unheard
Painter : Amarnath Sehgal
Medium : Bronze
Circa :1958A.D.
Period : Modern (Contemporary)
Collection : National Gallery of Modern
Art, New Delhi
Subject matter:- Contemporary-
socio-economic ills that plague
India. Themes of much of Sehgal’s
works primarily revolved around the
importance of individual freedom
and human dignity, and his
response to the horrors of political
violence.
Description:-
➢ ‘Cries Unheard’ is a bronze sculpture made by Amarnath Sehgal in
1958.
➢ It is a symbolic creation of a family of a three figures with their gloomy
faces showing agony and distress. The bronze sculpture has the parents
and their child, expressing the deep pain at the injustice done to them
by the society.
➢ The tall elongated figures with hollow distorted faces and hands raised
towards the sky are shouting to the world, that they have been victims
of political and social injustice with no one to hear their protests.
➢ The distorted figures of the sculpture present the social evil of the
society, suggesting their unending suffering and exploitation.
➢ Their nakedness symbolizes the misery, the shapeless body , and
poverty. The inclusion of the child in the same action is to emphasize
the continuous oppression for generations.
➢ The life long exploitation made them hollow.
➢ The theme of this sculpture is to suggest the painful cries of suffering
humans by making hollows in their heads.
•‘Ganesha’ – A Sculpture
Name : Ganesha
Painter : P.V. Janakiram
Medium : Oxidised Copper, Tin (Zinc)
and wires
Technique : Etching and Aquatint
Circa :1970-80 A.D.
Period : Modern (Contemporary)
Collection : National Gallery of Modern
Art, New Delhi
Subject Matter:- A modern/abstract
sculpture of the Hindu god Ganesha.
Description:-
➢ ‘Ganesha’ is a famous sculpture sculpted by P. V. Jankiram through
the medium of oxidized copper (black metal), tin and wires.
➢ The six handed dancing figure of Ganesha is holding Veena in his lower
two hands and playing it, while four others hold the traditional sankh,
chakra, gada, and lotus.
➢ The form is not static and it looks like in movement in his dancing
posture.
➢ The figures are made in geometrical shapes with the help of wire.
➢ The trunk is a broad and flat plane.
➢ There are red and orange patches at places on an otherwise
monochromatic figure of oxidized metal.
➢ This sculpture is different from other traditional idols, expressing the
emotion.
➢ viii) It is a two dimensional sculpture. vi. ‘Ganesha’ is one of the finest
creation of the sculptor and is preserved in the N.G.M.A., New Delhi.
