World of miniatures
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Each figure in Shelvaraj’s collection speaks of his superb skill.
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Photo: V.Ganesan
Exquisite designs: Created by Shelvaraj.
He carves exquisite figures out of anything that he can lay his hands on — from a grain of rice and the brittle chalk to turmeric and the tough marble. But roots of trees is his speciality, the divine images that he creates much sought after. M
eet Shelvaraj, whose passion is turning raw material into something artistic.
Hailing from Nagapattinam, Shelvaraj has been pursuing this art since his teens. It is amazing to see his world of miniatures unfold out of a box in which he preserves his figurines.
The row of elephants — from the tiniest speck to a centimetre tall — leaves you amazed. The details are in tact in all of them, indicating absolute concentration and abundant patience.
Intricate carvings
The Laughing Buddha, the reclining maid, standing damsel, the last mentioned hewn out of a piece of chalk, the display takes your breath away. When he points out the intricately done anklet that moves on the maid’s foot, you simply marvel at the skill and the sculptor’s aesthetic sense. Another ‘real image’ is that of the late Indira Gandhi. Even the sari folds are visible in the mini version.
Shelvaraj’s heart, however, is in the divine images that he creates. Vinayaka, Durga, Anjaneya… the mini figures made out of vellerukku have all the features of the regular idols. “They are made according to agamas
astra,” explains the soft-spoken artiste.
“They are not just figures. I observe all the norms that go into the making of a temple figure,” he adds. “I read avidly about the subject and have never missed an opportunity to interact with experts. Even now I spend hours looking at the sculptures in temples and reading the inscriptions,” he explains.
Finding the right kind of vellerukku is a task by itself. “I only choose the root of a tree that is at least 12 years old. And it should be a plant that yields pure white flowers, not the bluish ones. And cutting is done only
after offering puja and chanting of mantra. And I discard the piece if the figure gets even slightly damaged. I want the buyer to get all the benefits by keeping these figures in his puja room. ”
That makes these figures highly precious and the price range begins at Rs. 500.
Huge collection
“I had a big collection that I had planned to display at an exhibition but most of it was either damaged or washed away in tsunami,” Shelvaraj says showing a photograph in which he is talking to officials.
Has his children inherited his passion? “Not really,” he smiles. “But they are proud of me and never fail to appreciate my work,” he observes cheerfully.
His ambition? “I wish to carve a complete figure in ten minutes, even as I am walking, and thus set a Guinness record,” he says.
“But my real wish is to reach these figures to as many people as possible and help them find peace of mind,” sculptor Shelvaraj (94434 02970) ends on a solemn note.
G.V.
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