New Delhi, December 2024 – Sculptural art took the spotlight at the India Habitat Centre as Chawla Art Gallery, in collaboration with the Delhi Art Society and Calcutta Sculptors, unveiled “The Forces of Imagination”, India’s First-Ever Exclusive Sculpture Exhibition. This landmark show features over 100 artworks by 14 talented sculptors, redefining the boundaries of creativity and imagination. It’s a rare event in the art world, dedicated exclusively to this powerful and tactile medium.

The evening was graced by Hon’ble Dr. Karan Singh, who officially opened the show. It also included a special felicitation ceremony for the legendary sculptor, Padma Bhushan Shri Ram V. Sutar, the master artist behind the world’s tallest Statue of Unity, whose contributions to Indian art have been truly monumental.

The event, hosted by Shibani Chawla, Director of Chawla Art Gallery, and curated by the renowned art critic Nanak Ganguly, marked a significant milestone in the celebration of sculptural art. Influential names such as Bharat Lal, Secretary General of the National Human Rights Commission; Ajit Pai, Chairman of the Delhi Urban Arts Commission; Dr. Mahesh Verma, Vice Chancellor of IP University; Sumit Tandon, Director of India Habitat Centre; Dhanender Kumar of the Competition Commission, and eminent sculptors Neeraj Gupta, Vibhor Sogani, and Tapas Sarkar were among the distinguished participating artists. They were joined by many other prominent figures from the art and cultural community, making the event a convergence of artistic and cultural brilliance.

Shibani Chawla, Director, Chawla Art Gallery reflecting on the success of the evening, shared, “This is not just an exhibition; it’s a celebration of the tactile and transformative power of sculpture. For the first time, we’re bringing together such a diverse and extraordinary group of sculptors to explore how tradition and innovation intersect in today’s art world.” She further added, “With a curatorial focus on blending time-honored techniques and contemporary creativity, this event is a tribute to the enduring and evolving art of sculpture.”

For the first time ever, this remarkable showcase brings together sculptors-uniting both established masters and rising stars-in a groundbreaking exhibition. The collection features transformative works crafted in bronze, marble, stainless steel, wood, and aluminum, offering visitors a powerful visual and sensory experience. Participating artists from Calcutta Sculptors included Tapas Sarkar, Ratan Krishna Saha, Somnath Chakraborty, Debabrata De, Subrata Paul, Barun Pramanick, Saumen Kar, Chandan Roy, and Pabitra Ganguly. Representing the Delhi Art Society were Neeraj Gupta and Vibhor Sogani. Other independent artists were Narayan Lakshman, Bolla Srinivas Reddy, and KR Nariman.

Nanak Ganguly, the curator of the exhibition, enthusiastically expresses, “Curating The Forces of Imagination has been one of the most challenging yet rewarding experiences of my career. Bringing together over 100 sculptures by 14 diverse sculptors, each with their own distinct styles and languages, was nothing short of a Herculean task. My aim as a curator is not to highlight those already enshrined in museums or textbooks but to elevate mid-career artists-to create a platform where their work can be canonized and eventually find its rightful place in the museums of tomorrow.”

From Vibhor Sogani’s cutting-edge stainless steel sculptures to the narrative depth of Neeraj Gupta’s marble creations, The Forces of Imagination promises to be a visual and emotional journey like no other. This one-of-a-kind exhibition invites art enthusiasts to experience the transformative power of sculpture, where imagination takes form, and art is celebrated in its most tangible and profound expression.

The exhibition will remain open to the public at the Visual Art Gallery & Central Atrium, India Habitat Centre, Lodhi Road, Delhi until December 31, 2024, daily from 11 AM to 7 PM. It will then move to Chawla Art Gallery, Square One Mall, Saket, New Delhi, from January 1 to 31, 2025.