Neeraj Gupta’s wooden sculpture, “Divine Victory,” (or Sri Ram Vijay) captures the essence of a triumphant homecoming in a unique and contemporary style. Currently exhibited as part of the “Ramayana Chitra Kavyam” at the National Gallery of Modern Art in New Delhi, the sculpture offers a timeless portrayal of Lord Rama and Sita. The wooden sculpture stands tall, nearly six feet high and over five feet wide. Gupta employs a light terracotta finish, lending a sense of warmth and antiquity to the piece. The figures of Rama and Sita are the central focus, Rama depicted in a standing posture with his bow and quiver, symbolizing his victory. Sita, by his side, is draped in flowing attire, radiating an air of serenity. An interesting aspect of the sculpture is the faceless depiction of the central figures. Gupta deliberately avoids rendering noses and eyes on Rama and Sita. This, he explains, creates a blend of figuration and abstraction, elevating the work from mere craft to contemporary art...
“Every block of stone has a statue inside it and it is the task of the sculptor to discover it” – Michelangelo Sculptures these days are being created to cater the demands of the emerging upper and middle social classes. During the year 1940’s and 1950’s, Indian modern sculpture developed a unique autochthonous language; which was first seen in the works of Ram Kinker Baij who is among the best sculpture artist in India . His art gave a fresh outlook to both western and traditional Indian norms by combining them in a modern charter. He is also known for experimenting with unconventional materials such as concrete, gravel and cement, which gave his art an outlook of the rural landscape and tribal communities of India. The year 1950 saw the experimentations with wood and stone, by retaining the essential character of the solid block. Whereas, the next two decades saw sculptors use different kinds of techniques to create a reformed relationship between material, form and theme. W...