Works of enduring quality

Students and contemporaries of the late Prof. S. Dhanapal paid homage to the master artist by organising a retrospective exhibition in the city recently. SHANKAR NATARAJAN writes.

THE INAUGURATION of the retrospective exhibition of the late Prof. S. Dhanapal took place last week at the Lalit Kala Akademi. Apart from the main exhibition, a show titled ``Homage to Dhanapal,'' display of artworks by his students and contemporaries and an ``art festival'', a series of stalls in which independent artists, young and old, had displayed their recent works, were also opened for the public.

The retrospective show was an extensive one. It included the artist's sculptures, drawings, paintings and even some prints. All his well-known works were on display including the award winning ``Christ Carrying the Cross'', ``Avvaiyar'' and the terracotta ``Mother and Child''. There were also numerous portrait busts that Dhanapal continuously made during his career and these were grouped together in the inner halls.

The idea behind the hanging of the pictures seemed to be to overwhelm the viewer with the sheer variety of the artist's output. There is an advantage here. When not arranged according to chronology or theme, the viewer has to make his own effort, if he is inclined to it, and work out for himself an appropriate ``narrative''.

The following works were eye-catching and are proof of his versatility: two delightful ``brush technique'' paintings of the far eastern style depicting a monkey and a crow; his early experiments with the ``Indian style'' painting of the Bengal School which through his spontaneous touch seemed superior to anything produced by its original practitioners themselves and of course his famed life studies, many of which were made in his later years, showing his undiminished skill.

There is something special about Dhanapal's work that cannot go unnoticed easily and that is the lightness of touch. They are not laboured upon; they seem to have just happened, like nature. Looking at these works one realised how necessary it was for Dhanapal to paint, draw and sculpt and how natural too. The word that best describes them is ``authentic''.

Prof. M. S. Nanjunda Rao, General Secretary, Chitrakala Parishad, Bangalore, who inaugurated the ``Art Festival,'' said that Prof. Dhanapal's oeuvre had ``an enduring quality and power that makes the viewer return to it again and again.'' No better compliment can be given to this father of modern Tamil sculpture.

In the ``homage show'' special mention should go to R. B. Bhaskaran's consummate and linear representation of a cat, G. Chandrasekhar's haunting and lyrical combination of an abstract landscape and figural motifs from the South Indian mural traditions and Rm. Pallaniappan's very ``silent'' photographic homage to the sculptor. The ``Art festival'' displayed the works of other promising artists working in the city, including students from the college.

The ``Commemorative volume'' on Dhanapal, priced at Rs. 250, is a must buy for its sumptuous visual documentation. It also includes many scholarly essays on the artist that give an insight into his life, his artistic development and his work processes.

Some important personalities had been invited for the occasion. As the Carnatic music playing from numerous loudspeakers faded out, the chief guests climbed the stage and the function began. Prof. C. L. Porinchukutty, Vice-Chairman, L.K.A., New Delhi, presided over the proceedings and released the commemorative volume on the great sculptor. He had some strong words to say on the Indian art scene though. He criticised ``groupism'' as ``this sick phenomenon of Indian culture'' and fundamentalism as that which ``withholds the progress of Indian art''. He ended his speech with a request to the Tamil Nadu Government to build an exclusive gallery for the sculptor in the museum compound. This went down well with the audience.

Mrs. C. K. Gariyali, Secretary to the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, who had graciously agreed to inaugurate the exhibitions, spoke about her long and fruitful association with the Government College of Arts and Crafts and the Lalit Kala Akademi. Prof. Nanjunda Rao found it ``most fascinating to see the art festival''.

The convenors of the function were noted sculptor S. Kanniappan and printmaker and painter R. B. Bhaskaran. It was through their efforts and many others, including the relatives of Prof. Dhanapal, that the exhibition materialised. Last, but not least, Mr. Awani Kant Deo put in his first public appearance as the new regional secretary of the Lalit Kala Akademi.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : Features
Next     : Intricately carved furniture