GADHWAKAM SCULPTURES
By
Master Traditional Sculptor
JAIDEV BAGHEL
GADHWAKAM or lost wax casting is an ancient art of casting in India , in which intricate design work retains its delicacies of form , line and modulation ..
A statue of a dancing girl unearthed in Mohenjodaro dated around the third millennium BC , with its intricate elegant carvings , shows that the lost wax process was already perfected by then .
The metal sculptors are called Gadhwas and are of the Batsar tribes living in the forests of Chattisgarh . Gadhwa mean the art of shaping or creating , hence it is appropriate that these casters of bronze , brass and copper, are called thus . Their craft includes jewellery , household items , as well as their own Gods and Goddesses like Raodev , Dhanteshwaridevi , Mouladevi and Pardesin Matadevi .
An interesting characteristic of Gadhwakam sculpture are the elongated torsos and limbs of the stylised figures . Today their repertoire includes sculptures of Ganeshji , Shivji , Nandi , Krishna , Jesus and Mary , worshipped by other communities . Otherwise their art retains the simplicity and expressiveness , relatively untouched by modern times and encroachments on their native land .
JAIDEV BAGHEL
Master traditional sculptor Jaidev , was born in Kondagaon , Bastar District of Chattisgarh in 1950 . He belongs to the aboriginal artisan community of Gadhwas and started learning his art , at the age of eight , from his father Sirmanram , a world renowned artist of his time .
Jaidev won the National Award in 1977 , the Shikhar Samman from Mrs Indira Gandhi in 1982 , and has a Doctorate from the Ravi Shankar Shukhla University in Raipur . He has won several national and international awards and has had many films made on him and his work including by BBC , Japan TV , Discovery Channel , National Geographic and several Indian Film and TV channels .
His skills and creativity are in his ability to research his art and take it beyond established boundaries . He has set up a Centre for Gadhwa artists in Kondagoan to teach them this traditional art and help them participate in shows all over India ..
Jaidev has participated in shows in Russia , Germany , UK , Australia , Japan , Switzerland , Italy , France , Singapore , Hong Kong and Thailand . His works are in major collections and museums all over the world .
Significantly , his masrter piece “ The Tree of Life “ survived the terrible terrorist attack on the Taj Mahal Hotel , Mumbai on 26/11.
Jaidev also teaches “ Halbi “ the Adivasi dialect , which has no written script , to Prof Chris Gregory and his students at the Australian National University , through the internet since 1981.
Come see this show of our traditional Indian Gadhwakam sculptures , done by the master sculptor , Jaidev Baghel , himself .
Show continues till 23rd November 2014
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