Artists Profile
S Dhanapal
Born on 3 March 1919 in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, S. Dhanapal was an exceptional artist and sculptor. He went on to study painting at the Government College of Arts and Crafts, after which he joined the college as a faculty member in 1941. He was appointed Head of the Department of Sculpture in 1957.
His earliest influences were the artisans at Kapaleeswara Temple, who created vahanas for deities. As a child, he would spend hours at the temple observing the animals and creatures being carved into the vehicles. His enduring fascination with sculpting, blending Eastern philosophies and Western modern art aesthetics, began during his time at the Government College of Arts and Crafts. Here, he would also meet his mentor, Debi Prasad Roy Chowdhury, the then principal and renowned sculptor. Although Dhanapal had enrolled to study painting, his time with Chowdhury led him to learn the art of sculpting.
Another mentor who would be influential in his life was K. C. S. Paniker, with whom he established the Cholamandal Artists’ Village in 1966. This would further the Madras Art Movement exponentially.
Dhanapal’s early works depicted temple iconography and folklore. Later, he explored abstraction to reinterpret the same influences. He was also known for his sculptures of politicians and famous figures. The many politicians he sculpted include Periyar, Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan and K. Kamaraj. He also created a sculpture of Mahatma Gandhi following his passing.
The sculptor and painter’s works have been exhibited throughout the country and the world, including in England and Germany, as well as in a large retrospective at the Noble Sage Art Gallery in London in 2007. His works are part of prominent permanent collections, including the National Gallery of Modern Art, New Delhi, and Parliament House, New Delhi.
He was awarded two fellowships in 1980 by the Department of Culture of the Government of India and the Tamil Nadu Lalit Kala Akademi. He was also a proficient Bharatanatyam dancer for most of his life and acted in Thirumazhisai Azhwar as Siva and Vishnu.
The artist passed away in 2000.
His earliest influences were the artisans at Kapaleeswara Temple, who created vahanas for deities. As a child, he would spend hours at the temple observing the animals and creatures being carved into the vehicles. His enduring fascination with sculpting, blending Eastern philosophies and Western modern art aesthetics, began during his time at the Government College of Arts and Crafts. Here, he would also meet his mentor, Debi Prasad Roy Chowdhury, the then principal and renowned sculptor. Although Dhanapal had enrolled to study painting, his time with Chowdhury led him to learn the art of sculpting.
Another mentor who would be influential in his life was K. C. S. Paniker, with whom he established the Cholamandal Artists’ Village in 1966. This would further the Madras Art Movement exponentially.
Dhanapal’s early works depicted temple iconography and folklore. Later, he explored abstraction to reinterpret the same influences. He was also known for his sculptures of politicians and famous figures. The many politicians he sculpted include Periyar, Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan and K. Kamaraj. He also created a sculpture of Mahatma Gandhi following his passing.
The sculptor and painter’s works have been exhibited throughout the country and the world, including in England and Germany, as well as in a large retrospective at the Noble Sage Art Gallery in London in 2007. His works are part of prominent permanent collections, including the National Gallery of Modern Art, New Delhi, and Parliament House, New Delhi.
He was awarded two fellowships in 1980 by the Department of Culture of the Government of India and the Tamil Nadu Lalit Kala Akademi. He was also a proficient Bharatanatyam dancer for most of his life and acted in Thirumazhisai Azhwar as Siva and Vishnu.
The artist passed away in 2000.
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