Page 191 - Iconic Masters October2023

Lot No. 158
P V JANAKIRAM
1930-1995

SHEPHERD
19 x 6 x 3.5 in (48.3 x 15.2 x 8.9 cm)
Welded copper
1964
` 4,00,000 - 6,00,000 | $ 4,706 - 7,059

Published: ‘Contemporary Indian Sculpture: The
Madras Metaphor’ by Oxford University Press, New Delhi.
Provenance: Property from the collection of
Mr. Sanjay Bagaria.

This lot will be offered without a reserve.

P.V. Janakiram was one of the finest sculptors to
emerge from the Indian subcontinent, playing an
important role in the Madras Art Movement. He was
born in 1930 and went on to gain a Diploma in Fine
Arts specialising in Sculpture from the Government
College of Arts and Crafts in Chennai in 1952. In 1973,
he received an Honorary Diploma in Sculpture from
the government of Hungary.

Studying under influential artists K.C.S Paniker and
S. Dhanapal, Janakiram began adopting elements Front View
of traditional South-Indian sculptures in a bid to
encourage practices inspired by folk art and culture.
Kavachas or ‘armor’ in sculpture was especially
influential on the artist who then turned to beaten
sheet metal as his preferred medium. He created
impressive frontal portrait sculptures that were
two dimensional and featured repousse decoration
that was further enhanced by applique and wires.
Along with Dhanraj Bhagat, he was one of the major
artists responsible for popularising two-dimensional
sculptures. These anthropomorphic works showcase
his mastery of the craft and indigenous inspirations. Cover of the publication with the work illustrated.
Featuring linear and bold elements, a large portion of
his oeuvre are free-standing.
Among the many awards he received during his
career, prominent ones are National Awards in
1964 and 1966 from the Lalit Kala akademi, a Silver
Medal from the Hyderabad Art Society in 1965, and
the prestigious Grand Prix at the 2nd Biennale in
Budapest, Hungary, in 1973. His works are housed in
prestigious collections including those of National
Gallery of Modern Art, New Delhi; the Government
Museum, Chennai; the Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi
and the Punjab Museum, Chandigarh.