Features: Magazine | Literary Review | Life | Metro Plus | Open Page | Education Plus | Book Review | Business | SciTech | Friday Review | Cinema Plus | Young World | Property Plus | Quest | Folio |

One with Nature Vijayakumar G. Kumarapuram says Nature inspires him

Vijayakumar claims that it was an apparition he saw in an old bungalow in Alappuzha that inspired him to make the mermaid.

“The Alappuzha development authority had allotted the bungalow, then owned by the Coir Development Corporation, for my stay in Alappuzha. The palatial bungalow is said to have been built during the tenure of C.P. Ramaswamy Iyer, Diwan of erstwhile Travancore. It is rumoured that a young English woman had died in that bungalow,” says Vijayakumar.

The mermaid, which was completed in 1996, was part of the Alappuzha canal beautification project. Vijayakumar completed the mermaid within 90 days with the help of his brother Ravichandran. Workers helped move the large stones and metal bars meant for the sculpture. He carved out 208 conchs in various sizes and three lamp maidens along with the mermaid.

Vijayakumar claims that the conchs are carved in such a way that the inner anatomy is exactly as that of a real conch and because of this precision anyone who listens to the conch would be able to hear the humming of air.

Vijayakumar has developed a mix, which he calls ‘Panchakootu,’ to make the sculptures. Concrete is only one of its component and Vijayakumar is ready to part with the formula of this mix to those interested in learning the formula. This mix enables him to complete the works within a short period of time.

“Each project is a sort of devotion for me. I wake up at 3 in the morning and would begin work at 4 a.m. as it is the best hour of the day for me as my mind is more alert,” says Vijayakumar.

Vijayakumar’s works at Nelliyampathy and Thekkady stand testimony to his belief that great sculptures should evolve from nature and a sculptor is only an initiator of this process. He has sculpted an entrance for the Poabson group’s wildlife resort at Nelliyampathy. It looks like two huge tree trunks, which have stood there for ages.

“I was showered with praise from many quarters for this project, but I cherish the appreciation I got from nature, when a pair of giant squirrels nested on one of the ‘branches’ of my sculpture,” says Vijayakumar.

He received another chance to work with nature when he was assigned to design a signboard for Periyar Tiger Reserve. He modelled his sculpture on an elephant. Vijayakumar had to rebuild the elephant when a real tusker who strayed into the area destroyed the elephant sculpture!

His most memorable experience was when he was at Thapovan Asram at the foothills of the Himalayas. At one with nature, he created many sculptures .

This 48-year-old sculptor whom people affectionately call Guruji has also sculpted many idols. Vijayakumar also carved the idol of Sri Krishna at Sri Krishna Temple Mukkolakkal, near Nedumangadu, and sculpted the eastern entrance of Attukal Temple.

Besides works at Vennikulam temple in Thiruvalla and Thiruvanvandoor temple in Chengannoor, Vijayakumar was involved in the decorative work of the minarets of the mosque at Kesavadasapuram and has made figures for the Kanjirakkulam Church.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail