The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Exhibiting their dexterity in handmade stone carvings

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Saturday, Feb 09, 2008
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Exhibiting their dexterity in handmade stone carvings

Ranjani Govind

— Photo: G.P. Sampath Kumar

Intricate: Ramakanta Mahapatra with the seven-foot-tall Siddhi Vinayak at the STONA exhibition in Bangalore.

BANGALORE: A statue of Lord Ganesh in intricate Orissa stone filigree and a miniature model of the Gujarat Ambaji Mandir in stone, standing next to each other welcome visitors at the Shilpagram at STONA — a dedicated area where more than 60 stone artisans from all over the country have gathered to exhibit their dexterity in handmade carvings.

Apart from a host of artefacts in stone, pooja spaces, tulsi pots, birdbaths, gods in all forms and murals find space here.

It was the ornamental seven-foot-tall Siddhi Vinayak from national-award winner artisan Ramakanta Mahapatra that drew us towards him.

“I took three-and-a-half years to complete this piece in green serpentine stone with two assistants. It took a while for me to conceive this piece as I wanted to bring in the fine detailing that we do in Orissa temples. The softness of the stone allows for some complex carving and I have also brought in “navagraha” for the “prabhavali” around the Lord,” says Mr. Mahapatra.

And the price? “I will surely get Rs. 30 lakh for the effort,” is his premise. The artisan comes from a family that had their hands chisel the famous Sun Temple in Orissa too and many more in the country and abroad. “My brother has also been awarded the Shilpa Guru and I am happy about my national award declaration,” says Mr. Mahapatra, who shows his intricate carve of Buddha’s curls in green stone that has also found a buyer.

The miniature Gujarat mandir that will soon be in Limca Book of Records for the smallest ever stone model format is what interested us to talk to Nilkamal Sompura.

“I have attempted an 18-inch width, white marble mandir which is a replica of the Ambaji Mandir in Gujarat,” says Mr. Sompura.

Showing the artistic detailing on paper, Mr. Sompura said he was proud that he could replicate all the 70 pillars as in the original temple and make the whole piece a “see-through foundation” for people to count the number of pillars and see the sanctum sanctorum from the narrow aisle created in the tiny piece of art.

“I come from a family of artisans and my relatives have bagged an award from the British Government for their work on Akshardham temple in London,” says Mr. Sompura, who took six months to complete the marvel which he will preserve in his collection.

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