Tea with The Tribune
Art is all inspiration, says Jamwal
In a tete-a-tete with The Tribune team, Ravinder Singh Jamwal, famous sculptor and teacher with the Institute of Music and Fine Arts, Jammu, shares his thoughts on various issues
Ravinder Singh Jamwal is a sculptor of international repute. His creations dot the state. From sculptors decrying militancy to memorials of heroes like Gen Zorawar Singh and Brig Rajinder Singh and Gen Bikram Singh at the Vikram Chowk, Jamwal has given a variety of rich heritage to the state, particularly Jammu.
A teacher with the Institute of Music and Fine Arts, Jammu, he is the first and only Indian nominated to the Royal British Society for Sculptors.
Two students, Charu Mahajan and Akriti Bhat of Maharaja Hari Singh Agricultural Collegiate (MHAC), Nagbani, joined The Tribune reporters during an interaction with the artist.
Jupinderjit Singh (JJS): You have carved a niche in the art world. How tough it is to be a sculptor and who inspired you?
Ravinder Singh Jamwal (RSJ): Rajinder Tikku, Vijay Gupta and my teacher Vidya Rattan Khajuria have been my major source of inspiration. I owe a lot to Vidya Rattan ji.
It is quite tough. People generally discourage youngsters adopting art as a career. It is only because of the understanding of family and friends that an artist shines. Generally, people think it as a waste of time since one cannot support himself through such work let alone raising a family. But I have been lucky in this matter. When I used to carve nude forms in my young days, people thought it offensive and not as a work of art. They often complained to my father but he was always supportive.
Ravi Krishnan Khajuria (RKK): Tell us something about your family background.
RSJ: My father late Dhruv Singh was a Captain in the Army and during his lifetime, he had been to Vietnam, Singapore and Japan. We are three brothers and I am the youngest one.
If I am a sculptor today, the credit goes to my family, particularly my father and brothers, who always stood by me. And now my wife, who is a schoolteacher, helps me in my passion.
She has videographed and photographed all my creations. Frankly, I never wanted to get married because of my first love, which is, making sculptors and portraits. Eventually, I got married at the age of 38 years. I have a son, who studies in third standard.
Dinesh Manhotra (DM): You have over 35 statues and sculptors in Jammu. Which has been your most challenging work till date and which work gave you most satisfaction?
RSJ: Art is all inspiration. Sometimes, I finish a work in half an hour and sometimes, it takes three months or even more.
The statue of Gen Zorawar Singh which is cast in metal was the most challenging especially because it was cast in metal and the horse had to stand on two feet. The statue turned out to be over 30 quintal and it required several men to handle it when we heated it. Then, a crane was required to transport it to crossing near Bahu Plaza and the whole city came to a standstill when we were installing. I remember walking all along the way with the crane from Birpur village near Bari Brahmina
and my slippers withered away on the way.
The statue of Gen Bikram Singh installed at Bikram Chowk gave me much satisfaction. I am also emotionally attached with it. I got recognition of hat work as many admired the exact resemblance the statue has with the great warrior.
Ashutosh Sharma: You have set up a foundry in Birpur, far away from the city. It could have been easier for people to see your works if it were closer to city.
RSJ: Where is so much land available in the city? Moreover, there is no peace in an urban area. My family and villagers are always there to support me in every possible way.
But yes, sometimes, it becomes a painstaking job when the statues are to be commissioned in the city like the shifting of Zorawar Singh’s statue.
Akriti Bhat (student): But Sir, doesn’t living in small town affects your career prospects?
RSJ: Absolutely not. Rather one is more attached to the grassroots and reality of life.
DM: Birpur, as the name suggests is a land of warriors and it has rich history of Army officers. How was an artist born there?
RSJ: That is quite an interesting. My father too fought in Vietnam and foreign countries and the village has a rich history. Perhaps, art or artist is born at such places only where life unfolds in all colours.
Charu Mahajan (student): Your sculptures are more in the open places and not in the galleries.
RSJ: I believe sculptures and art work is not meant to be kept in galleries. How many people visit galleries? I prefer my sculptures to be put in open places where common people like me can see it any time. There are many who come and ask me what I have made, what is the meaning? I try to explain as I love the feeling that at least they have seen and asked which would not have been the case, if the works were indoors.
AS: Would you please elaborate on the process of metal statue making?
RSJ: As a first step, the desired model is made in clay. Then, we prepare detachable moulds of plaster of Paris. Thereupon, the same moulds are given a fine coat of wax from inside and runners are placed for pouring molten metal in them. The same moulds are then put in furnace for melting wax and casting. It takes three days and several quintals of wood in the furnace.
Metal casting is the most daring part of the entire process. We are supposed to put the molten metal in the cast within two minutes and the job requires a lot of muscle power and fine craftsmanship amidst soaring temperature near the furnace. Even the onlookers get frighten looking at the scene.
Archit Watts (AW): After the installation, statues are not taken care of. Don’t you feel bad?
RSJ: I feel that the statute becomes a part of nature. Birds sit on it as they do on a tree. But still, the authorities can take care and clean it regularly and repair, if required.
AS: The spectacles on the statue of Gandhi don’t seem to be the one he used to wear. Visibly, the spectacles being large in size cover the entire face. Your comments.
RSJ: My statue did not have those spectacles. I too find them awkward. I was told to make the statue without spectacles and I did it, but later a section of press reported that the spectacles have gone missing from the statue. Subsequently, someone put the glasses.
AS: The statue of freedom fighter Com Dhanwantri is lying with you for the past several years. Why it has not been installed?
RSJ: The Jammu Development Authority commissioned the project to me 10 years ago. I made it within weeks. But they couldn’t find a place for it. I spent nearly Rs 90,000 on the project and havn’t got a single penny for it. It is pathetic that the statue of a freedom fighter of the stature of Dhanwantri could not find any space in his home state.
AS: Which human expression you use the most?
RSJ: Earlier it was sadness; I tried to bring this sentiment apparent on the face of most of my statues. Subsequently, it was militancy, especially violence-hit migrants. I have highlighted their plight in my own way from time to time.
Akriti: How should a youngster pursue a career in Art? Where should he start from?
RSJ: Sketching is basic. Every painter or sculptor should start from sketching. And that does not mean you should start copying paintings or pictures. That is mere copying and a camera can do it better. Artists should practice sketching landscapes, humans or anything that inspires them and keep practicing.
Sunaina Kaul (SK): What is the scope of this art as a profession in this state?
RSJ: Earlier, there was no scope for sculptor art to be adopted as a profession in this state, but now more people are adopting it as a profession. Like paintings, sculptor artifacts are also sold in lakhs and crores in national and international markets.
Those who do hard work with dedication definitely get success in this profession.
Money does helps, for instance, former Governor Jagmohan and senior IAS officer Chakravarthy gave me many orders and persons like them help in mushrooming of artists.
JJS: Generally, a woman or a love affair becomes the base, the real inspiration of an artist?
RSJ: Everyone has certain experiences in life, good or bad. There are always something which remain in one’s heart and can’t be shared.
AW: Why does every artist have a different look, like you have long beard?
RSJ: An artist sees the world with his own eye and he or she thinks that they must look different from the people belonging to other walks of society. I keep long beard and I am comfortable with it. Moreover, our teachers were also like this. I continue wearing jeans even though people say it doesn’t suit my age. But I am like that only.
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