Concept Note: Bronze Show
Curated by Madan Lal

Classical sculptures in brass, copper and iron that we bear witness to in museums and galleries today have adorned homes, havelis, temples and palaces in India. The line, form and fluidity of such iconic sculptures like Chola bronzes have mesmerized art rasiks and critics alike. This rich tradition has found its continuum in the work of early modern practitioners like Ram Kinker Baij, Somenath Hore, Sankho Chaudhury, Meera Mukherjee, Raghav Kaneria, Nagji Patel and Himmat Shah each of whom wrought their memorable alchemy on materials as diverse as stone, copper and bronze and created monumental works many of which adorn innumerable civic and museum spaces across the countries. The beacon has been carried forward by Young Turk art makers like Subodh Gupta, Anita Dube, Dhruva Mistry and Sudarshan Shetty among others. Each of these artists have opened new vistas and wondrous sculptural possibilities with their varied use of diverse metals in the inter media and installation works.

It is against the backdrop of this sculptural tradition that we’d like to foreground new meaningful sculptural experiments forged by young sculptors and art makers in the proposed Ram Kinkar Baij Memorial Sculpture exhibition being organized to honor the memory of a great artist in his centennial year. Our Special emphasis would be on showcasing contemporary bronzes if only to underline the unbroken line from classical ancient Indian bronzes. How individual talent plays itself against, reinvents, reinterprets, renews sculptural tradition would constitute the revelation we seek to unveil for art critics and audiences alike.

A parallel effort would be to showcase, juxtapose as it were, new art works in bronze with rare, classic bronzes to further highlight tradition and individual talent, synergy and schism between old and new as also affirm the continued and unbroken engagement with bronze with its varied, multi hued colors and textures, as a sculptural medium in India.

The show, curated by well-known sculptor Madanlal, who also curated our Sculpture 95 show, promises to be a landmark one. The works featured would explore contemporary themes and ideas, celebrate modern forging techniques, and throw up exciting new concepts, constructs, and possibilities. Works would be primarily in bronze. However artist would also experiment with diverse alloys of bronze. Such experimentations and innovations would hopefully, translate into art works that would perhaps regenerate thought, provoke debate, and lend new vigor and urgency to the art scene in general and the sculpture scene in particular, in India.


From the Director’s Desk

When we had mounted Sculpture’95, eleven years ago, we were aware that the show would enthrall the viewers and discerning art lovers alike, as we had showcased refreshingly evocative works done with newer concepts and materials by a set of comparatively young sculptors; yet we were a bit apprehensive about the responses it would ultimately generate as the awareness and interest in contemporary sculpture scene seemed to be negligible at that time. So, the critical resounding success of the show took me completely by surprise. Infact for the first time in India, the famous cartoonist Sudhir Tailang, who was with Hindustan Times, drew a cartoon on Sculpture ’95 and the leading daily carried it on their front page.

Today with due modesty I can claim that the show Sculpture’95 had contributed towards the growing interest in the contemporary sculptural scene and set me on a fascinating trail – which could best be termed as “Contemporary Sculptural Trail”. The present show Bronze is the result of my journey on that trail as well. And I would like to add that after Sculpture ’95 this is another major show of sculptures we have mounted, with faith and admiration for our artists working in the medium. And are confident now that this show of 35 artists, belonging to different generations, will generate not only heartening responses from all quarters, but would also enhance our perception about today’s sculptural scene, which is vibrant, innovative, and ever growing.

Before this major event also Gallery Espace has tried to fulfill its responsibility of showcasing individual artists in solo shows as well. The works of Rajender Tiku, Madan Lal, Karl Antao- to name only a few, were mounted by the Gallery. And in-group shows along with paintings and drawings we have presented sculptures with the same zeal. I recall all this, at this juncture, only to remind myself that still so much has to be done in terms of exhibitions, publications, etc. to put forth the world-view of the sculptors working with passion and commitment to create works, which really enthrall, and give food for thought as well.

Infact the idea of showcasing another sculptural event, after Sculpture’95, had never left me, and in all these years we at Gallery Espace have been observing with keen interest that a new set of sculptors have arrived on the scene and have made a definite impact on it. With this happening, the previous generations who have been working for a shift in Indian sculpture for many years with vigour and explorative intent, and have been initiators of a new sculptural tradition were also before us, guiding our perception. Hence the idea of Bronze germinated and when it came to offer the curatorial responsibility to someone, I could not think of anyone but Madan Lal, himself a significant practicing sculptor who has a great regard for tradition and gurus. As far as younger artists are concerned he interacts with them in a friendly manner and keeps a constant dialogue with them. We as well as sculptors’ community fondly remember the way he had energetically curated the Sculpture’95. Thus the choice was obvious.

Six months of discussions with him and subsequent discussions with several younger artists, who were looking to explore this medium culminated into Bronze, tracing down 100 years of Indian sculpture in the same. We zeroed in on Bronze, as we thought that this would bring in sharp focus the use of material, and its intent and a whole gamut of expressions it has to offer.

It fascinated me to see how the rich tradition of early iconic sculptures found its continuum in the work of early modern practitioners like Ram Kinker Baij, Prodosh Dasgupta, Somenath Hore, Sarbari Roy Chowdhury each of whom wrought their memorable alchemy on materials as diverse as stone, copper and bronze and created monumental works many of which adorn innumerable civic and museum spaces across the countries. The beacon has been carried forward by sculptors like Subodh Gupta, Anita Dube, Saroj Kumar Singh, Krishna Yadav among others. Each of these artists have opened new vistas and wondrous sculptural possibilities with their varied use of diverse metals in the inter-media and installation works.

It is against the backdrop of this sculptural tradition that we’d like to foreground new meaningful sculptural experiments forged by young sculptors and art makers in this Ram Kinker Baij Memorial Sculpture exhibition which is dedicated to him to honour the memory of a great artist in his centennial year. Our special emphasis is on showcasing contemporary bronzes if only to underline the unbroken line from classical ancient Indian bronzes.

The success of this show could not have been possible without the passion, commitment and hard work of Madan Lal. My enormous gratitude to him.

To Prayag Shukla who was the motivating force behind Sculpture’95. My special thanks to him for again taking up the task of editing this catalogue.

Bronze could not have been successfully executed and mounted without Manjari Sihare. My very special thanks to her for meticulously working on this project.

To Geetika who has been my support system, my thanks.

To collectors- public and private and the occasional. Many thanks for placing their faith in us.

To colleagues in the media who have kept us on our toes- my thanks.

Gallery Espace could not have moved ahead without the support of artists and their confidence in us. My gratitude to the artist community and a very special thanks to all the participating artists of Bronze.

To Shweta, Dhara, Pawan, Manoj, Neelam, Bahadur and Rakesh who have been the gallery’s backbone- my very special thanks.

To my family- my husband Devendra and my children Kapil, Manav and Nidhi who have been my constant source of encouragement and patience- my gratitude.

To my spiritual guru, to whom I owe my attempt to grow and enrich my journey through life-a quiet and devoted pranam.

Renu Modi