Contemporary, yet traditional art

The celebrated Cholamandal sculptor and multiple national awards winner S Nandagopal is in Mumbai for the first time, with 15 of his breathtaking sculptures.

Ranging from two feet to four feet, his sculptures in copper and brass defy gravity and are mostly themed on notions of flight, motion and weightlessness, and yet well-rooted.

Nandagopal draws his inspiration from a wide variety of traditional Indian and world art. Despite the deeply traditional tinctures in his works, they associate to contemporary international sensibilities as well. “I’m too close to my work to be critical, but I know that I am still searching,” says the sculptor.

His narrative oeuvre constitutes one of the most important collections in contemporary Indian sculpture scenario. In his works that will be on display at the Museum Art Gallery, he has used the wheel symbolically to depict the cyclical nature of life and its aspects. The show, aptly titled, ‘The Wheel as Metaphor and Other Sculptures’ is presented by Art Musings and showcases works such as ‘The Acrobat’, ‘The Ride’, ‘The Mount’, ‘The Monkey’ etc.

“I start by doing drawings which are blown to the required size. It’s traced on to boxboard which is cut, bent and stapled to make the model. This is further traced onto copper and brass sheets; cut and heated on a hearth and bent to required shapes,” Nandagopal details his work.

Admittedly influenced by renowned sculptors V Janakiram and Dhanraj Bhagat, Nandagopal has made a niche of his own and his marvellous welding skills give his works an enviable finesse. His works are on display at the Museum Art Gallery from August 30 till September 6.