A call to save mother nature
Here comes a middle-aged man from a farflung district called Bastar in Orissa with a message for the world: “Please don’t kill the forests, even they have a life”. He doesn’t proclaim to be an environmentalist, nor does he run an NGO or is educated enough to measure the pollution levels, but growing up in nature’s lap has taught him enough to understand that it’s time to halt the miuse of the nature, otherwise the earth’s doomsday is not far enough.
Mr Jaidev Baghel, the 58-year-old master of the traditional Ghadwakam or lost wax metals casting will be showcasing around 30-35 sculptures at the Jamaat Art gallery in Mumbai from November 17. Drawing inspiration from the old-age traditions and folktales, Mr Baghel’s Ghadwakam scluptures are based on the ancient art of casting perfected in Mohenjodaro, a 300 BC civilisation, and as the scluptor claims, has remained in its traditional form, passed on from one generation to another within a Ghadhwa (metal sculptor and hence the name Ghadwakam) family.
The sculptor will be displaying a mix of traditional and contemporary art, at the upcoming exhibition. While the Panch-Mukhi, a tree with five faces, portraying five different emotions of Van Devi (the forest god) while a tree is being cut, the Tree of Life II (a similar rendition of the mahua tree which survived the 26/11 terror attack in Taj Mahal Palace Hotel) explains how trees have traditionaly been the provider of food and joy and even in its rotten form (a traditional wine made from the flowers of mahua), adds life to celebrations like festivals and weddings. The Tree of Life interstingly summarises the entire life of a human being, and what it’s purpose should be: To give joy to others. Then there’s his sculpture of a man and women on top of the earth, calling people to save the earth.
Mr Baghel has an intersting definition for what constitutes contemporary. “What you can’t understand is modern and what’s been established over the centuries is traditional, and that which combines both is contemporary,” he explains. And he doesn’t feel sad to think about it. “That’s how a layman understands art, doesn’t he?” he says.
Jaidev’s tryst with modern and contemporary art began when an art critic questioned his ability to create artwork at par with other modern sculptures. “He said, ‘You can’t create contemporary artwork with traditional method’; I have been making contemporarty sculptures since then. But this time the focus is more on traditional work,” says Jaidev. The artist, since his early days as an artist has participated in numerous exhibitions in European countries like Italy, France, Russia, Australia, Japan Singapore, Hong Kong and Thailand. His works are in major collectiosn and museums all over the world. But what makes his artwork worth appreciative and an important collection is his ability to research his art and take it beyond established boundaries.
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