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Authentic Hoysala style of sculpture kept alive

— Photo: K. Gopinathan

CAPTIVATING IMAGES: A view of a sculpture at the Belur’s Chennakesava Temple, which is a major centre of Hoysala architecture.

Bangalore: The Chalukya-Hoysala style of sculpture, known for its profuse ornamentation, and exemplified by the 12th century Chennakeshava temple in Belur continues to be in demand.

Carved intricately on soft schist, it takes a month to complete a statue — that is, if three sculptors work on it for 12 hours a day.

Hoysala sculpture might be a collector’s art now, but it is an endangered art, according to art historian S. Shettar, Director of the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts, Southern Regional Centre.

To restore the art to its authentic glory, the IGNCA Southern Regional Centre recently organised a workshop for sculptors.

Six sculptors, drawn from different parts of Karnataka — from Karkal, Gadag, Somavarpet, Sivarapattana and Hospet — were invited to work with art historians and experts on the Kasyapa Silpa text.

The six veteran sculptors crafted images of Ganesha, Chandrasekar, Ardhanarishvara, Dakshinamurthy, Kalasamhara and Lingodbhava — following the injunctions laid down by the text.

“The aim was to build up on what the shilpis already know about their craft – it is an inherited craft, passed on through the gurukula system. But there are errors and influences that creep in,” he said.

“While it is necessary to retain creativity in art, it is important to keep in mind the origins of the craft. A look at the texts — the iconography and iconometry laid down by them, the proportions, postures and gestures — will help revive the art form,” says Prof. Shettar. These images will become part of the collection of the IGNCA Centre.

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