MEERA MUKHERJEE
Akara Modern
1923 -1998
Meera
Mukherjee was born in Kolkata and studied at the Indian Society of Oriental Art
School of Art. Later, she earned a Diploma in painting, graphics, and sculpture
at the Delhi Polytechnic. She travelled to Germany in 1953 to study painting at
the Hochschule fur Bildende Kuenste in Munich. It was here that she discovered
her love and talent for sculpture - a discipline through which she gained
international renown.
Her
sculptures were deeply influenced by the traditional Bastar sculptors of Madhya
Pradesh, a community she worked closely with. Here she learnt the Dhokra method
of sculpture also known as the “lost wax” method. Incorporating this technique
into her sculptural art, Mukherjee was able to develop her process for bronze
casting. Her works have a certain unique lyricism and rhythm that overcome the
limitations and the rigidness of bronze. Her sculptures are inspired by the
mundane tasks carried out daily. Mukherjee’s work is not just a celebration of
humanism, but also a yearning to reach beyond the trivialities of everyday
living and embrace freedom.
She was
well honoured in her lifetime and was the recipient of the Padma Shri, the
President's Award of Master Craftsman, and the Abanindranath Award from the
West Bengal Government.
Images
Exhibitions
Mysteries of the Organism curated by Girish Sahane February 26 - April 15 , 2016
Press
