Pilloo Pochkhanawala

Pilloo Pochkhanawala (1923 - 1986) was among the first few women sculptors in India. Initially, she worked in advertising before becoming a sculptor. Through her dynamic works, Pochkhanawala established herself as a pioneer of modern sculpture among her contemporaries. Her pieces were inspired by nature or often took the form of human figures. As a self-taught artist, she employed a variety of media in her artworks including metal, stone and wood.
In addition to being an artist, Pochkhanawala was also a facilitator and mediator of arts in Bombay. From the 1960s, she organized the Bombay Art Festival for many years. Along with her fellow artists, she also played a major role in transforming the Sir Cowasji Jehangir Hall into National Gallery of Modern Art, Mumbai, which is now one of country's leading museums housing contemporary art. 
== Early Life and Education ==
Pochkhanawala was born in Parsi family which followed the ancient religion of Zoroastrianism. She was brought up in the household of her paternal grandparents in a traditional joint family consisting of three children and eleven grandchildren. Members of her family were the owners of Cowasjee Dinshaw and Brothers. With the head office of their firm in Bombay, their business also extended to Arabia, Africa and Aden. Pochkhanawala visited these places during her childhood, out of which Zanzibar impressed her the most, especially because of its African Voodoo cult rites. 
Instead of following the rigid customs of the family, Pochkhanawala was exposed to diverse perspectives in the company of her peers, both in secondary school and college. The struggle for Indian independence was at its peak during her youth. She became a part of cultural and political changes that were happening with the rise of Quit India Movement whilst World War II. In 1945, she received her college degree in commerce and went on to work in an advertising firm. 
== Career and Influences ==
Working in the advertising industry suppressed Pochkhanawala's urge to draw at her own will. Instead of statistics, her books were filled with sketches during her time in college. After her experience at the advertising agency, she was convinced that visual arts was her real calling.
=== Foray into Sculpture ===
In the year 1950 - 51, Pochkhanawala made her first visit to Europe. She was on an assignment to create posters and advertisement displays for Air India. Meanwhile, she discovered iconic works by artists like Constantin Brâncuși and Henry Moore among many other contemporary sculptors. This rekindled her desire to pursue visuals arts and motivated her to turn into a sculptor. She decided to devote herself entirely to sculpture after returning to Bombay.
=== Inspiration from Indian Art ===
Pochkhanawala's visit to temple sites around the country piqued her interest in the art and history of Indian Sculpture. She admired the fluidity and liveliness of these sculptures, which had a profound impact on her creations.
Post independence, Ramkinkar Baij (at Shantiniketan) and Shanko Chowdhury (at Baroda) took over the responsibility to propagate the new approach to making sculptures. She, along with Adi Davierwala in Bombay, worked on sculptures that showcased their beliefs and expressed their experience of living in changing India of the 20th century.
== Style ==
Pochkhanawala was fascinated with the initimate boundaries of space which she could use through the time she existed in. Her arrangement of motifs, the meticulous use of negative space around them and the occasional violent distortions within the abstract mode she worked with, render her sculptures powerful dynamism even today.
She passed away in 1986.
Category:Indian women sculptors
Category:Parsi people
Category:1923 births
Category:1986 deaths
Category:Artists from Mumbai