K. S. Radhakrishnan

Watching master sculptor K.S. Radhakrishnan at work is a performance in itself. His process is distinctive, the outcome not limited by material or time. His preference for modelling and bronze casting over new materials sets him apart from his contemporaries. Blending old school sculptural process with a new sensibility he brings to Indian sculpting a sense and technique that is not common.

K.S. Radhakrishnan’s is a name synonymous with the resurgence in Indian sculpture. His installations are ambitious and he ensures that they are created exactly as he imaged. One thing he has proven over and over is that mediocrity is not his thing. His craft is as lofty as his thought. They are both at once intimate and universal in their appeal. This has made his masterpieces the centre of attraction at many public collections all over the world.

His pieces have a certain eternal quality about them making them a fashion statement of sorts across the ages. The style is something he has evolved on his own. He says his best lesson for his craft came from his father who instilled in the son a passion for the potency of ritual dances and performances, learning which he uses remarkably well to his advantage even today. Brimming with dance, drama and performance, his delicate human forms hold ground in any settings inspiring awe in their audience. His repertoire includes larger than life works, installed in public spaces where they evoke a superhuman atmosphere. The works often draw from the emotions and myths of the Hindu Gods – Shiva, Kali and Radha. Sensuality and life are central to his works.

Over the years, Radhakrishnan has tried and tested alternate sculpting mediums, working in molten bronze, beeswax and Plaster of Paris.

Winner of several awards including the National Scholarship, LKA Fellowship and Birla Academy of Art & Culture Award amongst others, his work has been exhibited in many solo and group shows held at Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Paris and the USA. He lives in Delhi and works from his studio on the outskirts of the city.

To see artworks by K. S. Radhakrishnan, click here