S. Nandagopal (b.1946, Bangalore, India) Nandagopal’s sculptures have a whimsical, but solid quality about them, a mixture of opposites that can be seen in their strong roots in traditional motifs that have been transformed into a super-contemporary idiom that is uniquely his own. This difference is the essential quality of his sculptures. Several figures have been inspired by Hindu mythology and the epics. However, each sculpture creates a new mythology as well as a new form that helps us relate to a culture far removed in time. His powerful, glistening bronze and copper sculptures soar energetically into space. The use of commonplace found objects lends a strangely imaginative ‘today’ quality to the works . Metaphysical Edge presents the watercolours of S.Nandagopal who is otherwise widely known for his sculptures in welded metal. Over the years he has grown in stature and his “narrative” sculpture constitutes one of the most important collections in contemporary Indian sculpture in India. Yet while Nandagopal is an artist steeped in tradition his work has a contemporary ambiguity that speaks far beyond the Indian art world.   Hence the collection of watercolours comes as a pleasant surprise. Like almost all the Madras sculptors he had his basic training in painting though he spent most of his time in the metal work studios. He returns to the watercolours after more than four decades, taking off from there with a totally fresh and different style.      EDUCATION   1966 - Loyola College, Madras University - Degree in Physics.          Life member of Cholamandal Artists’ Village near Chennai. 1971 - Government College of Arts and Crafts, Madras - first class Diploma in Fine Arts.     EXHIBITIONS   2014 - 4 from the Madras Movement, Art world, Chennai. 2014 & 2011 - For Art Chennai, Forum Art Gallery, Chennai 2013 - The Madras Movement, Gallery Time & Space, Bangalore 2013 & 2011 - India Art Festival, Mumbai by Forum Art Gallery, Chennai 2011 - Solo show, Art world, Chennai 2009 - The Wheel as Metaphor & Other Sculptures, Art Musings, Mumbai, India 2008 - Past Present in Search of The Heroic, Espace, New Delhi, India 2008 - Bronze, Gallery Espace, New Delhi, India 2006 - Solo show, Singapore Art Museum 2002 - Solo show, Art world Gallery, Chennai, India 1981 - The Madras Metaphor Exhibition, Art Heritage Gallery, New Delhi, India 1980 - Travelling exhibition of the National Gallery of Modern Art, Teheran, Moscow & East European countries, Indian section at Fukuoka Museum, Japan 1978 - IV Triennale, Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi, India 1976 - 13th Middelheim Open air sculpture exhibition, Antwerp, Belgium 1975 - III Triennale, New Delhi, India 1975 - Pugwash Exhibition, Taj Coromandel Hotel, Chennai, India 1972 - II Triennale, Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi, India 1970 - National Exhibition of Art, Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi, India     AWARDS   2002 - The Jindal Stainless Steel Award for Sculpture, New Delhi, India 1978 - Gold Medal at the IV Triennale, India, International Exhibition by the Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi, India          State Nunkalai Kuzhu Award of Chennai, India          National Award, Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi, India 1976 - Award of the Kerala Lalit Akademi 1974 - Award of the Academy of Fine Arts, Kolkata, India 1972 - Award of the Academy of Fine Arts, Kolkata, India 1970 - National Award, Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi, India 1968 - Award of the Madras State, Lalit Kala Akademi     GRANTS & FELLOWSHIPS   1990 - Senior Fellowship of the Ministry of Cultural Affairs, Govt. of India 1985 - I.C.C.R. travel grant to Yugoslavia & British Council travel grant to Britain 1981 - British Council travel grant to Britain 1880 - The Homi Bhabha Fellowship & Travel grant to the United States     PUBLICATIONS   2006 - In-depth article on work in World Sculpture News, Hong Kong 2004 - Work published in the book Cholamandal-An Artist Village, Oxford University Press 1998 - Work published in the book An Algebra of Figuration, Oxford University Press 1993 - Work published in the book The Madras Metaphor, Oxford University Press 1980 - In-depth article on work in Art International, Lugano, Switzerland     COMMISSIONED MURALS & SCULPTURES   2013 - Hyatt Regency, Chennai - 23 feet sculpture in welded copper and brass 1999 - Transport Corporation of India - 15 feet sculpture in stainless steel for their corporate headquarters at Gurgaon 1997 - Raymonds, Chennai - 13 feet sculpture in welded copper and brass 1994 - The National Centre for the Performing Arts, Mumbai-20 feet sculpture in stainless steel at Priyadarshini Park, Mumbai 1981 - Hotel Taj Chandela, Khajuraho-25 feet mural 1979 - Hotel Sofitel Surya, New Delhi - 20 feet mural in welded and silvered copper 1971 - Hotel Taj Connemara, Chennai - Welded and silver plated copper mural     NOMINATIONS   1989 - Served on the Henry Moore Foundation Fellowship Committee of the British Council to select Indian artists to study in Britain 1992 - Nominated by the Govt. of India to serve on the purchase committee of the National Gallery of Modern Art, New Delhi 1997 - Served on the jury of the 9th Triennale-India, International Exhibition conducted at New Delhi by the Lalit Kala Akademi 1998 - Nominated by the Govt. of India to serve as an advisor to the National Gallery of Modern Art, New Delhi 2001 - Nominated by the Govt. of India to serve as an advisor to the National Gallery of Modern Art, New Delhi 2002 - Nominated by the Govt. of India to serve on the purchase committee of National Gallery of Modern Art, New Delhi   The artist lives and works in Chennai.