Artists Directory >Nandagopal S

I have realised from the start the importance of that succession of sculptors abroad in whose hands contemporary sculpture has been nursed over the years revealing in the process the immense possibilities of the medium in the Indian context. I have studied and been influenced by the works of such great masters as Gonzoles. Henry Moore, Brancusi, David Smith, Anthony Caro, etc. But I have felt equally strongly and from the very start that the pursuits, enquiries and accomplishments of that succession of sculptors arise out of a way of life and culture with which I cannot identify myself. I cannot see how any contemporary artist in this country can avoid being seriously disturbed by it.

"The 'modernity' that I accept is basically the modern tradition of free creative expression and that puts me in empathy with what appears to me as free creative expression in the art of my country, namely, the rich store of folk expression. I am a sculptor and my medium is welded copper what I can absorb, argue and express is perhaps limited by my medium.

" Modern Indian sculpture in my generation and in those earlier to mine has had to rely on Western masters for its 'theory' and reach out to the native sensibility only for the 'expressiveness'. There is, I am aware, a school which holds to traditional 'theory' and strains out to the West for the 'expressiveness'. Both these approaches have held back contemporary Indian sculpture from being something true in itself and in free relation to its own ancestry and contemporary world sculpture. In the comprehension and technique that I seek, I am in fact searching for an independent validity and the right relation with my own ancestors on the one hand and my contemporaries on the other. And that broadly is my quest". 

Born in 1946 in Bangalore, acquired B.Sc., degree in Physics from Loyola College, Chennai in 1966 and Diploma in Fine Arts from the Government of Arts and Crafts, Chennai in 1968. Recepient of the National Award from the Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi in 1967 & 78. Also won the Gold Medal at the IV Triennale International Exhibition, New Delhi in 1978.

He has held several show in Japan, European countries and in all the major cities in India. His sculptures are in the collection of various public and private institutions in India and abroad. They no more repeat the monotonous frozen forms found imprisoned in the matrix, but instead his forms and creative elements seem to float in space. They are harmonious blend of contemporariness and his own conventional desire to hold together scraps of creative elements.

Chronology

1989 : Servers on the Henry Morre Foundation Fellowship Committee
1990 : Senior Fellowship conferred for two years by the Department of culture, Government of India.
1997 : Appointed one of three curators for the Indian Section at The IX Triennale - India, New Delhi.
1998 : Nominated by the government of India as Advisor to the National Gallery of Modern Art, New Delhi.
1991,1993 &1997 : The Madras Metaphor, New Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Calcutta,
1992 : Nominated by the Government of India to serve on the purchase Committee of the National Gallery of Modern Art, New Delhi.
1978 : Gold Medal at the IV Triennale-India, Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi
1993 : One of the seven sculptures featured in the volume, the Madras Metaphor published by Oxford University Press. 
1994 : Commissioned by National Centre for the performing Arts, Mumbai,to execute 2oft high stainless sculpture for Priyadarsini Park, Mumbai, as part of ART FOR PUBLIC Programme.
Participates in: (1) II, III, IV and V tirennales-India, Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi, (2) 25 years of Indian ARt, Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi, (3) PUGWASH ALL India Exhibition, Taj coramandel Hotel, Chennai (1974), (4) Indian Art Exhibition, Moscow (1978) and (5) several National Exhibitions lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi.
1978& 1968: Receives an award at the Tamil Nadu Ovia Nunkalai Kuzhu Annual show, Chennai.
Participates in several international group shows held in Yugoslavia (Tito Gallery of Non-Aligned countries. 
Titigrad, 1985). (Modern Art Gallery, Yogoslavia) and Born, Germany (Indian cultural Centre), 1986.

 

Murals Commissioned

Silver plated copper mural at Hotel Connemara, Chennai, three free standing sculptures in silvered copper for Indra Hotel, Paris, commissioned by Spencer Group, a 25 ft high mural in silvered copper and brass for Hotel Sofitel-Surya, New Delhi, a 20 ft high mural in silver plated copper and brass. Hotel Chandela, Taj Group, Khajuraho, mural in copper and brass for Canara Bank (headquarters), Bangalore, and mural in brass and copper for MRF, Chennai.

Camps

1980 : First International Sculptors' Camp, organised by the University of Paltiala, Patiala.
1984 : Southern Artists' Camp, Tamil, University, Thanjavur.
1985 : Sculptors' Camp and Seminar, Titograd, Yugoslavia.

Collections

National Gallery of Modern Art, New Delhi, Air-India, Mumbai, Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Mumbai, Government Museum, Banglore, Government Museum, Chennai, Rajasthan Government Museum, Jaipur, Tamil University, Thanjavur, the Birla Group, the Walchand Group, Mahindra and Mahindra, Tito Museum of Non-Aligned Countries. Titograd, Yugoslavia, Madras Rubber Factory Ltd (MRF), Chamundi Mopeds, Banglore, Bharat Bhavan, Bhopal, South, Indian Textile Research Association, Cultural centre, Coimbatore, the Jossip Broz Tito Museum, Titograd, Yugoslavia, and several other private and public collections aboard.

In addition to the awards already mentioned Nandagopal is the recipient of those given by (1) the Academy of fine Arts, Calcutta, 1972 and (2) Kerela State Lalit Kala Akademi, 1976.

Address:
Cholamandal Artists Village
Injambakkam,
Madras - 600 041.