Sankho Chaudhuri

Sankho Chaudhuri (25 February 1916 – 28 August 2006) was an Indian sculptor, a noted figure in the art scene of India. (Although named Naranarain in due family tradition, he was more widely known by his pet-name Sankho) Ram Kinker Baij was his teacher. He began close to cubism and then was influenced by István Beöthy, whom he had met in Paris. His themes have included the female figure and wildlife. He was worked in a wide range of media, and has produced both large-scale reliefs and mobiles. Born in 1916, Santhal Parganas (Bihar), Sankho Chaudhuri completed his Bachelor of Arts and Diploma in Fine Arts from Kala Bhavan, Santiniketan in 1939. He was appointed as Reader at the Head of Department of Sculpture and later served as Dean of Faculty of Fine Arts, M.S. University, Baroda. He taught Fine Arts at the University of Dar-e-Salam Tanzania and also represented the country at the International Conferences in UNESCO, Paris and Venice. He was a recipient of Padma Shri in 1971; National Award and Fellow of the Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi, 1956 & 1982; D.Litt. (Honoris Causa) by the Centro Escolar University, Philippines, 1974; Aban-Gohan Award by Visva Bharati University, 1981. He was the Ist Honorary Joint Secretary, Indian Sculptors Association, Mumbai. He was Chairman of Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi in the late eighties. A Retrospective was held of his works at the NGMA in 1997. He died in 2006. Sankho Chaudhuri completed his Bachelor of Arts and Diploma in Fine Arts from Kala Bhavan, Santiniketan in 1939. He taught Fine Arts at the University of Dar-e-Salam Tanzania and also represented the country at the International Conferences in UNESCO, Paris and Venice. He was a recipient of Padma Shri in 1971; National Award and Fellow of the Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi, 1956 & 1982; D.Litt. (Honoris Causa) by the Centro Escolar University, Philippines, 1974; Aban-Gohan Award by Visva Bharati University, 1981. He was the Ist Honorary Joint Secretary, Indian Sculptors Association, Mumbai. He was Chairman of Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi in the late eighties. A Retrospective was held of his works at the NGMA in 1997.

Features

Name

Sankho Chaudhuri
Known for

Artist, Sculptor
Schooling / Education

1939 Bachelor of Arts, Kala Bhavan, Visva Bharati University, Santiniketan, India 1945 Diploma in Sculpture, Kala Bhavan, Visva Bharati University, Santiniketan, India 1945 Studied Nepalese System of Metal casting 1949 Study Tour of Europe, Worked Paris and England, Visited Art Centres of Italy, Switzerland, Belgium and Holland
Group Shows

1954
Exhibition of Contemporary Sculpture, National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA), New Delhi, India

1956
National Exhibition of Art, Lalit Kala Akademi, Rabindra Bhavan, New Delhi, India

1974
Participated in the First Biennale of Arab Artists

1979
Joint Exhibition with Ira Chaudhuri, Mumbai, India

1983
Invited to Baghdad International Art Exhibition, Iraq
Solo Shows

1946
First One-man Show, Mumbai, India

1957
One-man Show, New Delhi, India

1969
One-man Show, Mumbai, India

1971
Retrospective, National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA), New Delhi, India

1987
Sculptures & Drawings, Gallery Aurobindo, New Delhi, India (17 January - 05 February)

1987
One-man show of Sketches and drawings, Kolkata, India

1992
Sketches and drawings, Kolkata, India

1993
L.T.G. Art Gallery, New.Delhi, India

1995
Exhibition of Sculptures, Cymroza Art Gallery, Mumbai, India (08 - 25 March)

1997
Exhibition at National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA), New Delhi, India

1998
Paintings and Sculptures, L.T.G. Art Gallery, New Delhi, India (06 - 20 November)

2005
Paintings & Sculpures by Sankho Chaudhuri, Sarjan Art Gallery, Vadodara, India (18 - 25 January)
Awards And Achievement

1956
National Award, Lalit Kala Akademi, Rabindra Bhavan, New Delhi, India

1957
Commission of Sculpture, Music for the All India Radio, New Delhi, India

1958
Commission of Mural, Vadodara University and Alembic Chemical Ltd.

1964
Commission of 15 Bronze Statues of Mahatma Gandhi now in Rio de Janeiro

1967-68
Commission 2 Stainless Steel Rotating Sculpture for Jyoti Ltd., Vadodara, India

1971
Padma Shri by the President of India

1974
D. Litt ( Honoris Causa ) by the Centro Escolar University, Philippines

1976
Commissioned by Government of India, 5 Brass Sculpture for World Bank

1981
Aban-Gagan Award, Visva Bharati University, Santiniketan, India

1986
Commission of 5 Bronze Sculptures of Mahatma Gandhi for Copenhagen, Denmark

1987
Commission 4 Marble Sculpture for Habitat, Nairobi, Kenya

1987
Commission 5 Marble Sculpture for the UNICEF, New Delhi, India

1997
Hon. Doctorate Rabindra Bharati University, Kolkata, India

2000
Desikottama, Hon. Doctorate, Viswa Bharati University, Santiniketan, India

2002
Aditya Vikram Birla Kala Shikhar Puraskar

2004
Lalit Kala Ratna Puraskar, New Delhi, India ( 9 August )

2004
Legends of India, Lifetime Achievement Award
Additional And extra details

SELECT TEACHING & EXPERIENCE
1986
Visited Ethnographic Museums at Oslo, Lillehamer and Open Air Museum at Copenhagen, Denmark

1988
Visited as visiting Fellow and toured Indonesia

1949-50
Reader, Maharaja Sayajirao University, Vadodara, India

1949-50
Head of the Sculpture Department, Maharaja Sayajirao University, Vadodara, India

1952
First Honorary Joint Secretary Indian Sculptors Association, Mumbai, India

1956
Member, Lalit Kala Akademi, Rabindra Bhavan, New Delhi, India

1957-66
Professor of Sculpture, Maharaja Sayajirao University, Vadodara, India

1961
Represented India at the International Symposium of Sculptors in Yugoslavia

1962
Organised Lalit Kala Akademi's Sculptor's Camp at Makrana, Nagaur, India

1966-68
Dean Faculty of Fine Arts, Maharaja Sayajirao University of Vadodara, India

1969
Organised Exhibition, Folk and Tribal Image of India, for Lalit Kala Akademi, Rabindra Bhavan, New Delhi, India

1972
Organised Rural India Complex on behalf of All India Handicrafts Board

1974
Honorary Secretary, Lalit Kala Akademi, Rabindra Bhavan, New Delhi, India

1976
Participated in Seminar on Tagore, Dartington, UK

1976
Visiting Professor, Benares Hindu University, Varanasi, India

1976-77
Organised Artist's Studio at Garhi for Lalit Kala Akademi

1977-78
Visiting Fellow, Visva Bharati University, Santiniketan, India

1980
Professor of Fine Arts, University of Dar-es-Salam, Tanzania

1982
Participated in Seminar organised by the British Museum, London, UK

1982
Organised exhibition of Books at the Festival of India in UK

1982
Fellowship, Lalit Kala Akademi, Rabindra Bhavan, New Delhi, India

1984-89
Full Time Member, Delhi Urban Art Commission, New Delhi, India

1984-89
Member, All India Handicrafts Board

1984-89
Member of Jury, 5th Triennale India, Lalit Kala Akademi, Rabindra Bhavan, New Delhi, India

1984-89
Chairman, Lalit Kala Akademi, Rabindra Bhavan, New Delhi, India

1985
Conference on preservation of Folk Lore Tradition, Represented India at UNESCO, Paris, France

1986
Represented India at the International Conference sponsored by UNESCO, Venice, Italy

1987-92
President, Rashtriya Manav Sangrahalaya, Bhopal, India

1989
Led a delegation to China at the invitation of the Chinese Peoples Society for Friendship with Foreign Country