Sculptures from the soul

The show Cutting Edge, New Age Sculptures of Hyderabad features a unique blend of works by young and senior artists. The curator of the show M.V. Ramana Reddy aims to highlight the works of artists with high creative prowess. Amid a host of eye-catching works, his own brass sculpture titled, ‘Evolution’ is based on the changes that have taken place in the wake of modernism.

M.V. Ramana Reddy’s brass sculpture ‘Evolution’ is based on the changes that have taken place in the wake of modernism.

“These alterations have infused a mechanical and insensitive streak into human life, which has marooned the emotional aspects to a large extent. My work symbolises the fact that contemporary life has become like a puzzle,” explains the artist, on the work that has a figure walking out of a geometrical grid.

Artist A. Rajeshawar Rao’s work reflects a social message and is about ‘Beti Bachao’. His mixed media work in jute, paper and pulp depicts long plaited hairdo which is rare to find nowadays.

Artist A. Rajeshawar Rao’s work reflects a social message and is about ‘Beti Bachao’. “My mixed media work in jute, paper and pulp depicts long plaited hair, which has become a very uncommon hairdo these days. And yet, it is a strong symbol to depict girls and women and so it suited my visual dialogue,” he says.

A flower bud with multiple petals by Jagdish Chintala makes a statement with its simplified yet exquisite grace.

An equally fascinating work with paper and mixed media by Jagdish Chintala makes a statement with its simplified yet exquisite grace. A flower bud with multiple petals, adorned with geometrical lines and patterns, imbibes an innate sense of composed equilibrium. Similarly, a meditative and spiritual head by Srinivas Reddy in mixed media depicts a painted male form on one side and a female on the other. A lotus flower in the centre of the forehead balances the composition and enhances the symbolic aspects of the dialogue.

A striking sculpture in mixed media by Chippa Sudhakar is a composed head that’s lit up intrinsically from the lower section.

A striking sculpture in mixed media by Chippa Sudhakar is a composed head that’s lit up intrinsically from the lower section. An interesting play of dramatic light unveils the innate thought processes in the form of multiple elements and imagery inside the head. Similarly, based on introspective and surrealistic insights, a set of heads by Manohar Chiluveru reinstate the myriad strengths of a human mind. For instance, a metaphorically composed head has a water tap attached to it.  

Sajid Bin Amar creates an interesting composition in mixed media, rich in simplified geometric forms arranged in a harmony; the subtle colour palette grants a rich finesse to the work

On the other hand, Sajid Bin Amar creates an interesting composition in mixed media rich in simplified geometric forms arranged in a harmony; the subtle colour palette grants a rich finesse to the work. Known for portraying rural folk in a stylistically rich manner, Kandi Narsimlu quite in sync with his earlier work has exhibited the sculptures of a rural couple rendered in fibreglass. Interestingly, Y. Shivaramachary’s work in brass also depicts a couple; the bodies are like a leaf, the wooden base with a brass door enhances the symbolism and allegory of the dialogue.

The meditative and spiritual head by Srinivas Reddy in mixed media depicts a painted male form on one side and a female on the other.

Pramod Reddy has crafted reclaimed wooden pieces into interesting animal forms. “From last three years I have been working with used wooden pieces and those collected from carpenters, I blend them together to make forms without changing their inherent shapes,” he explains.

Altogether, the group of works make for a very intriguing experience. Says the curator, “Sculpture as a medium of expression needs more exposure. The fact that sculpture can enhance the ambience of indoor as well as outdoor spaces is a concept that needs to seep into the minds of people,” he concludes.

HT02