SANKHO CHAUDHURI | Untitled

Acquired from Lalit Kala Academy, New Delhi, March 2007

New Delhi, Lalit Kala Academy, Solo Exhibition of Late Prof. Sankho Chaudhuri, 6-20 March 2007

Irregularities to the surface of the marble, inherent to the medium. Light scratches and nicks are visible which are likely part of the sculpting process. Small losses and minor accretions are also present. There is slight wear underneath the sculpture. The work is in very good overall condition for its age, as viewed.
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'The few outstanding sculptors of India today who try to make a difficult living, have come to realise, I believe, that the greatness of their ancestors is not easy to challenge. Fresh creative power is needed, and a bold departure from down on earth realism, always despised by ancient Indian art. The greatest among them, Mr. Dhanraj Bhagat and Mr. Sankho Chaudhuri, are creating memorable works of high originality.' (C. Fabri, ‘Art in India Today’, Design Magazine of the Arts, Ed. P. Singh, Vol. 4 , No. 1, 1959, p. 11) Imbued with a timeless, totemic essence, Untitled epitomises the refined sculptural practice of Sankho Chaudhuri. Its elegant, twisting form expresses a sense of controlled movement and elevation. Art critic, Richard Bartholomew, has summarised the characteristics of Chaudhuri’s works: ‘There is poise and stance in many of the statues, even if the qualities of volume and of weight are slender in proportion. Grace is the prime quality of Sankho Chaudhuri’s sculpture’. (R. Bartholomew, ‘Thought’, 29 December 1956, in R. Bartholomew The Art Critic, BART, Noida, 2012, p. 342)

The current work showcases Chaudhuri’s exceptional skill as a sculptor. Whilst the marble exudes solidity, the curving form he has crafted is also marked by soft, delicate lines. Through this sculpture, Chaudhuri has struck a perfect balance between dynamism and balance, and fulfilled his artistic manifesto:  “To me a piece of art is no more for worship, nor a nostalgic illustration nor yet necessarily an ornament to decorate a room. It need not be profound or notable. It is the expression of the sum total of a person with all its faults and limitations. Its only value is that it is a record by a human hand of a man's mind, his reactions, fascinations, joy or failure.” (S. Chaudhuri, 'The Artist and Society', Lalit Kala Contemporary, no. 6, Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi, 1968, p. 38)