A kaleidoscope of Indian architectural style ranging from the Guptas to the Cholas and Hoysalas is taking shape in the city with sculptors applying their mind to chisel modern replicas of ancient iconographic forms.
The Sculptors’ Camp that got under way here on Wednesday will bring alive a slice of classical Indian art with an opportunity for a live-view of the work in progress.
The theme of the camp is ‘Ancient Indian Sculptural Art’ and is being held under the auspices of the Lalit Kala Akademi, National Academy of Art, New Delhi, Department of Ancient History and Archaeology, University of Mysore, and the Department of History, Maharaja’s College.
Reckoned to be the first of its kind, the camp will go on till November 23. “In all, 10 sculptors are chiselling a replica of Sarnath Buddha (Gupta style), Gajalakshmi carved in Sanchi (Shunga style), a bust of Surya of the Kalyani style, depiction of Mahishasuramardhini in the Chola style, and Buddha of the Solanki style,” according to V. Shobha of DoS in Ancient History and Archaeology.
In addition, the artistes are sculpting an image of Parsvanath in the Hoysala style, the Hoysala emblem, Ganesha, Nandi, and Yaksha of Somnathpur, she added. The camp is being supervised by Puttaswamy Gudigar, Director, Shilpa Loka, Goa, and the artistes are working on their subject on soap stone.
What emerges from the workshop is the skill and imagination of the artisans or sculptors at work where imagination transforms to image, said Vijay Rao, Head, Department of Art History, Chamarajendra Academy of Visual Arts.
The camp is open to the public to witness the transformation of the sculpture from start to finish. Once completed, the sculptures will be exhibited and may find a place in the university’s museum.
