A random rock, may just be another piece for many, but not for Tutu Patnaik. He has found beauty in them, and has carved out masterpieces out of them, throughout the world. What stands out is the essence of his country in his work.
One of his memorable works was at the two-month summer residency camp at ‘Les Lapidiales’ at Port D’Envaux, West of France, in 2009-2010. He was given a massive space (24 X 12 feet) on wall surface of a stone quarry that was discovered by Romans in the second century and from where stones were used to make great historical works of art, including the pedestal of Statue of Liberty in US.
“The abandoned quarry was rediscovered in 2000. Space is given to six invited sculptors every year from across the world to imprint it with their signatures in their own visual forms. In 2009-10, I was given the theme of Mother Earth,” recalls Patnaik, adding that the criteria for the sculpture was that he had to create the entire rock cut sculpture with only hammer and chisel and without taking help of any assistant or electrical machinery.
The artist then chiseled out the Mother Earth of stone holding humanity in her lap, keeping in mind the image of Mother Mary holding Lord Jesus, and the whole universe comprising sun, moon, stars and planets revolving around them.
At the end, he left his imprint on the sculpture in the form of a poem in Odia.
Patnaik’s works mostly revolve around the rich culture and tradition of the country, Odisha in particular, presented in a contemporary style. “I draw inspiration from the temples, folklore, sculptures, motifs and idols of the State. The concept of tradition weighs heavy in my work,” says the New Delhi-based master sculptor.
Having completed his Bachelors in Fine Arts (BFA) with a gold medal from Benaras Hindu University, Patnaik did his Masters from Delhi College of Art. His skill in handling the stone has earned him several awards and accolades.
In 2010, he attended a marble sculpture symposium in Russia along with 37 other sculptures from other parts of the country on the theme ‘Myths and Legends’. What he created was one among his favourite themes — Buddha under a Bodhi tree amid demons approaching from
all sides.
Apart from mythology, Patnaik has also experimented with the freedom movement and freedom fighters of the State. Few years back, he paid homage to Prananath Patnaik, Odia freedom fighter, in the form of a 15 feet high stone structure shaped like a book in the heart of which, rests the bust of Prananath in bronze.
Similarly majestic was his stone and bronze commission in New Delhi last year on the theme ‘Vision Mahatma’ where he paid tribute to the Father of the Nation. Besides stone, the sculptor works on wood, fibreglass, marble, bronze, ceramics and clay. He is currently participating in an international sculpture symposium in France. The only Indian to be selected to participate in the symposium.