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ShareMumbai: They hail from all across the country and their unique outlook reflects itself in their work. DNA tells you why these three sculptors are ones to watch out for...
29-year-old Mumbai-based Valay Shende started sculpting professionally after completing his four-year diploma from the JJ School of Art in sculpture and modeling. A striking instillation of a dabbawala is completely made out of clocks signifying punctuality. Another piece de resistance is of a Bhaiyya Indian.
"It depicts a bhaiyya who has migrated to Mumbai and doubles up as a doctor, soldier, carpenter, chaiwala, istriwala, cricketer etc, carrying a stethoscope, saw, tea kettle, iron, ball in his multiple hands," he says. Through this metal installation, Valay explains the important roles that the humble bhaiyya plays to make our lives easier. Interestingly, the text of the Preamble of the Indian Constitution runs as a ticker through his spinal cord.
Bangalore-based Krishnaraj Chonat has been creating sculptural installations for the past 10 years after finishing his post-graduation in Fine Arts from Baroda. "Sculpture suits my temperament," he says, adding, "I work with a host of skilled people like carpenters, metal fabricators, tailors, leather-craftsmen, artisans etc, when I work on a project."
His recent project Private Sky alludes to the simulated experiences in today's popular yet bizarre housing projects. Krishnaraj critically examined a Venetian housing colony that was coming up close to his studio. Since the real project itself was built on reclaimed land from a lake, it is mosquito-ridden and the same is reflected in his project.
Another intriguing project is The Coracle depicting a pile of debris precariously situated on a jacuzzi with a pair of binoculars on top of the heap. "It questions the romantic idea of escaping dull/gray, mundane everyday situations into far, beautiful, unknown lands; the directionless drive of materialism in life," he says.
Baroda-based Chinmoy Pramanick has been practising his art since the past five years. One sculpture titled Wood Brass depicts a gun attached to a trumpet. "It simply means that the people who have power blow their own trumpets," says the 32-year-old who has done his masters in Fine Arts from Baroda. This installation has been inspired by the Gujarat riots," he explains. Another art work titled Lip to Ear shows the manner in which information is misinterpreted so much so that it becomes so distorted that it has to be flushed out of the system.
