Bommuluru, a sleepy village near Hanuman Junction, is abuzz with creative activity with city-based national award winning sculptor B.S.V. Prasad along with fellow sculptor Kamadenuvu Prasad, is working overtime to prepare a 125-feet statue of B. R Ambedkar, one of the architects of the Indian constitution at Sri Saibaba Mega Silpalaya.
Under a huge make-shift shed, he and his fellow craftsmen spruced up a bust-size mould by using four tonnes of iron scaffolding. The 18-ft head and 7-ft body will be ready by next week.
“We use plaster on the mould and later use fibreglass to cut the mould to pieces. We apply the necessary dye before fixing them by using welding machines and rivets. Finally we apply necessary colours to the structure,” explains Mr. Prasad.
For Prasad duo, who executed several orders, this assignment is something unique for they are making the statue to prove their mettle. “Both Andhra Pradesh and Telangana governments are making grandiose announcements in honour of Dr. Ambedkar. I just wanted to prove a point that there are proven sculptors in Andhra Pradesh who can match the best of sculptors in the country and elsewhere”.
Earlier, Mr. B.S.V. Prasad created several iconic statues and the most–talked about was Mahatama Gandhi’s statue in the sitting-posture which was sent to Dallas at United States of America. He also made a record number of statues of former chief minister Y.S .Rajasekhar Reddy including the huge ones installed in Idupulapaya and Pavuralagutta.
Mr. B.S.V. Prasad with an innovative mind brought a revolution in the world of statue-making by giving up the age-old and time-consuming cement techniques. The artist received the Khadi Gramodyoga Silpi Puraskar from then president A.P.J Abdul Kalam in 2005 for his innovative work of introducing fibre technology in preparing lightweight statues.
We use plaster on the mould and later use fibreglass to cut the mould to pieces. Finally we apply necessary colours to the structure
B.S.V. Prasad
Sculptor
