12th Solo Sculptural Show of Kiran Dixit Thapar [DELHI ]

Anindya Kanti Biswas

We are very much accustomed with the fact that when most artists of her age are doing commissioned work and thinking of winding up, 69-year-old Kiran Dixit Thapar is all geared up for the journey and the reason is more than one. If we consider, one reason is that she started a bit late and another reason is that Kiran went back to practising art after her daughter’s death. She says “few years ago at my daughter’s funeral, I realised that the only way out of my grief was to start again, to sculpt, paint and draw with sincerity and passion; to be on a plane of consciousness where nothing matters except your work.,

It took me another ten years and enormous other tragedies to actually give up my job, my home and friends, to come back to Santiniketan and start again.” She completed her diploma in fine arts in 1968 from Kala Bhavan of Santiniketan and moved to England where she lived and taught craft design for almost 30 years. The artist returned to India in 2000 and took up sculpture again and since then it is one exhibition every year for her. There is indeed anxiety about the time lost, her fragile health but it doesn’t match up to the excitement she feels planning and working of her shows. Amongst the direct disciples of the legendary sculptor Ramkinkar Baij, Kiran Dixit Thapar is regarded as one of the best in the present Indian art scenario. It’s time to appreciate her artwork as she is considered to be one of best sculptors in present day, or else it will be an injustice to this eminent artist.