Raghav Kaneria

== Raghav Kaneria ==
Raghav Kaneria MA, A.R.C.A (b.1936), is a sculptor, photographer, and fine art professor. He is regarded as a major figure in the world of Indian art and viewed as one of the pioneers of Modern art movement in post independent India. Founding member and only sculptor in Group 1890, his artistic works have been exhibited at many prominent group shows and venues across the globe.
Kaneria is a recipient of numerous national and international awards. His art creations can be found in prestigious public and private collections such as Arts Council Collection (Great Britain), Fitzwilliam Museum (Cambridge, England), Royal College of Art (London, England), National Gallery of Modern Art (India), Ministry of Education (Govt. of India, New Delhi), Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (India), Salar Jung Museum (India), Birla Academy Museum (Kolkata, India), Subhash Chandra Bose Park (Kochi, India), Air India's art collection, Lalitkala Akademi (New Delhi) and others.
* As a sculptor, Kaneria is best known for his modernist work. His experiments involving metals in various shapes and forms, and use of industrial techniques like welding and wax casting helped pave way for next generation of sculptors to venture further into metal realm and develop their own techniques. . Besides metal he has also done extensive work in terracotta, wood, stone, cement and mix media.
* As a photographer, Kaneria is recognized for his extensive documentation of the Indian folk-art scene, the tribal traditions, and lifestyle.
* In the academia, as fine art teacher, Kaneria has coached, mentored and influenced numerous national and international art scholars.His work has also drawn attention of art historians and scholars making him subject of academic research projects and study material.Anshuman Das Gupta. “Sculptural Embodiments: Unmaking and Remaking Modernity.” Marg - A Magazine of the Arts 52, no. 1 ( Sep 2000): 13-24.INDIAN MODERN AND CONTEMPORARY ART (Theory course)
==Early Life & Education==
Raghav Kaneria was born on 19th March 1936 into a very ordinary farming family in a small and remote village Anida, in Saurashtra,, British India,, now Rajkot district in State of Gujarat. His early schooling up to 7th grade occurred at his local village school. For grades 8 to 11, Kaneria went to boarding school, Sangramsinhji High School also known as Sagramji High School, at a nearby town, Gondal.
Kaneria joined the Sculpture department, Faculty of Fine Arts in Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda (now Vadodara, Gujarat State) in 1959. And graduated with 1st class, Diploma in Sculpture. India was entering a new era post-independence, where Indian art and cultural activities were supported and promoted by the government. Kaneria was awarded Cultural Scholarship by The Government of India to study under tutelage of eclectic artist Professor Sankho Chaudhuri from 1960 to 1962.
In the year 1964, Kaneria received the Commonwealth Scholarship awarded by British Government to study at Royal College of Art, London, England. In 1967, he was awarded A. R. C. A. and in 1968, an M. A. (Arts) from Royal College of Art, London, England. During this period, Kaneria had opportunity to study under Professor Bernard Meadows.
==Style==
Raghav Kaneria's style is amalgamation of several different factors and early life experiences growing up in rural India. Kaneria gives credit to his mother, Santokben Kaneria who was a folk artist practicing the folk art of for inspiring him to take interest into drawing from very early age. Kaneria would watch Santokben do the detailed embroidery drawings on piece of textile and then he would try to mimic the same on his school slate/pen. Though a pioneer of modern abstract art, Kaneria's creations have held on to his roots strongly. They display essence of Indian rural folk art (Ganesh series), his affection and love towards animals, understanding their moods and movements (Bull & Calf Series), and last but not least, harmony with mother nature ). 
The other important turning point of his early career came when he was given commission work project at Mukand Iron & Steel Works Limited, Mumbai. India. He had access to all the industrial metal handling tools and equipment on the company premises. That is where he started experimenting with welding and incorporated its use in his art style. He convinced the company supervisor in charge to let him use the equipment, premises and material to create sculptures of his own for not getting paid for commission work. That is when he created majority of his sculptures that were displayed at the iconic Group 1890 show. He is viewed by many as the pioneer of larger scale metal sculptures and use of industrial welding techniques in the field of sculpting, Bull at Subhash Park, Water Carrier at Fitzwilliam Museum).
As noted by numerous art scholars and historians, Kaneria at times relies on unconventional, "poor" materials and found objects such as wood, metal, scrap iron and nails to create abstract sculptures in an attempt to break away from existing meanings of form, drawing inspiration from village life and rituals. His creations sit at the intersection of Indian rural folk art, mother nature, animal life forms and modern abstract art.
Kaneria's love for tribal culture, folk-art and old traditions prompted him to pick up photography and travel across India visiting remote areas documenting local traditions, culture and way of life.
To summarize, Raghav Kaneria in his own words, “I am but, a mere instrument, who takes inspiration from the colossal treasure trove of countless art forms that manifests our universe”.
==Career==
===Academic Achievements===
* 1st class, Diploma in Sculpture, Faculty of Fine Arts, Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, Baroda, India. (1959)
* Recipient of Cultural Scholarship awarded by Government of India to study under Prof. Sankho Chaudhuri at Faculty of Fine Arts, Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, Vadodara, India. (1960 - 1962)
* Recipient of Commonwealth Scholarship awarded by British Government to study at Royal College of Art, London, England. (1964 - 1967)
* A. R. C. A. from Royal College of Art, London, England. (1967)
* M. A. (Art) from Royal College of Arts, London, England. (1968)
* Faculty member, Department of Sculpture, Walthamstow School of Art, London, England. (1967 - 1969)
* Recipient of Visiting Foreign Artist Fellowship award. Faculty member, Department of Sculpture, Hull College of Art, England. (1972)
* Faculty member, Department of Sculpture, Faculty of Fine Arts, Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, India. (1970 - 1996)
* Professor, Department of Sculpture, Faculty of Fine Arts, Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, India. (1985 - 1996) 
* Department Chair, Department of Sculpture, Faculty of Fine Arts, Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, India. (1983 - 1991)
* Recipient of Senior Fellowship awarded by Ministry of Human Resource Development, Department of Culture, Government of India, New Delhi, India. (1996 - 1998)
* Honorary Doctor of Letters (D.Litt.), Rabindra Bharati University, Kolkata, India. (2023)
===Selected Honours & Awards (Sculpture)===
* National Award of Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi, India. (1959)
* Tamra Patra of Bombay State Art Exhibition, Pune, India. (1959)
* Silver Medal of All India Sculptor’s Association, Mumbai, India. (1960)
* Tamra Patra of Bombay State Art Exhibition, Ahmedabad, India. (1960)
* Governor’s Prize of Bombay Art Society, Mumbai, India. (1960)
* President of India’s Silver Plaque of All India Fine Arts and Crafts Society, New Delhi, India. (1960)
* Silver Medal of Bombay Art Society, Mumbai, India. (1960)
* Prize of Bombay Art Society, Mumbai, India. (1961)
* 1st Prize at Gujarat State Arts Exhibition, Surat, India. (1961)
* Gold Medal of Bombay Art Society, Mumbai, India. (1962)
* The Mouj Printing Bureau’s prize of Bombay Art Society, Mumbai, India. (1962)
* National Award of Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi, India. (1963)
* Sir Robert Sainsbury Award, London. (1967)
* Gaurav Puraskar - Felicitation as an eminent artist by Gujarat State Lalit Kala Academy, Ahmedabad, India. (1997)
* Felicitation by All India Fine Arts and Crafts Society of New Delhi, India. (1999)
* Kala Ratna Award from All India Fine Arts and Crafts Society of New Delhi, India. (2001)
* Kala Ratna Award from Gujarat Kala Prathisthan, Surat, India. (2012)
* Kalidas Samman Award from Madhya Pradesh Government, Bhopal. India. (2013) 
* Felicitated as leading Indian Artist by Society of Contemporary Artists, Kolkata, India. (2015)
* Felicitation by Gujarat Kala Pratisthan, Surat, India (2016)
* Honorable mention: Metal by Georgetown Arts & Culture Board, Georgetown, Texas, USA. (2022)
===Selected Workshops & Demonstrations===
* Metal casting workshop, Faculty of Fine Arts, M. S. University of Baroda, India (2016)
* Artist Demonstration, Faculty of Fine Arts, M. S. University of Baroda, India (2016)
===Selected Shows & Exhibitions===
* Bombay State Art Exhibition, Pune, India. (1959)
* Biennale de Paris, Paris, France. (1959)
* Commonwealth Art Exhibition, London, England. (1960)
* One-man show, Mumbai (Bombay), India. (1963)
* Group Show, GROUP 1890, New Delhi, India. (1963)
* Expo 67, Montreal, Canada. (1967)
* Group Show at Burlington House, Loudwater, England. (1968)
* 13 Middelheim Sculpture Biennial. Antwerp, Belgium. (1975)
* Third Triennale-India, Lalitkala Akademi, New Delhi, India. (1975)
* Traveling Exhibition, on display at Moscow, Warsaw, Prague, Budapest, Sofia, Tehran, Damascus & Baghdad. (1978)
* Asia Artist Exhibition, Part I by Funaoka Art Museum, Tokyo, Japan. (1979)
* Bernard Meadows at the Royal College of Arts 1960 – 1980 by the Fitzwilliam Museum of Cambridge, England. (1980)
* Exhibition in Festival of Indian on the Living Art of India by Art Council of Great Britain. On display at the Serpentine Art Gallery London. As well as in Cardiff, Glasgow, Bradford and Sheffield. (1981)
* Indian Sculpture Today: 1983, an exhibition by Jehangir Art Gallery, Mumbai, India. (1983)
* One-man Show, Mumbai, India. (1984)
* Traveling exhibition of 6th, 7th, 8th,9th and 13th Photo Contest in Asia and Pacific in major cities of Japan, Burma, Vietnam, Malaysia, Thailand, South Korea, China, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Maldives and India. (1982 - 1985, 1989)
* Contemporary Printmaking: India, Festival of India in USA. (1986)
* Bombay Art Festival, Mumbai, India. (1987)
* Rautenstrauch-Joest Museum, Berne, Switzerland. (1987)
* Museum of Ethnology, Colone, Germany. (1987)
* Musee de l’Elysee, Lausanne. (1987)
* Musee of Trade, Zurich, Switzerland. (1987)
* Ottobrunn, Germany. (1987)
* Art Council Exhibition, Frankfurt, Germany. (1988)
* Pratibimb: Festival of India in Russia, at the Pushkin Museum, Moscow, Russia. (1988)
* Two-man Show, Art Heritage Gallery, New Delhi, India. (1990)
* 7th Triennial India, New Delhi, India. (1991)
* Festival of India in Germany. (1991)
* Two-man Show, Cymroza Art Gallery, Mumbai, India. (1991)
* Two-man Show, Navdeep Art Gallery, Ahmedabad, India. (1991)
* West Zone Artist by Birla Academy, Calcutta, India. (1992)
* The Other Way of Seeing at Museum Voor Volkenkunde, Rotterdam, Holland. (1992)
* 2nd International Photo Festival of Child and Young Adult, Soreh Photo, Tehran, Iran. (1993)
* Hundred Years from the NGMA Collection (1994)
* Group Show at Ohio University, Ohio, USA. (1995)
* Group Show at Iowa University, Iowa, USA. (1995)
* Group Show by the Birla Academy of Arts and Culture at Century Bhuvan, Mumbai, India. (1995)
* Eminent Artist Group Show by the Birla Academy of Arts and Culture, Calcutta, India. (1996)
* Two man Show at Admit One Gallery, New York, USA. (2000)
* ‘Bronze’, Group Show by Espace Art Gallery, New Delhi, India. (2006)
* Fingerprint: Digital Prints and Films, Red Earth Art Gallery, Vadodara, India (2006)
* Group Show at Catharsis Art Gallery, Ahmedabad, India. (2008)
* One-man show at Red Earth Art Gallery, Vadodara, India. (2015)
* Vadfest at Faculty of Fine Arts, Vadodara, India. (2015)
* Invited Artist at Central Lalit Kala Academy, New Delhi, India. (2015)
* Group 1890, India's Indigenous Modernism, a group show at DAG Modern, New Delhi, India. (2016)
* India Art Fair, DAG Modern, New Delhi, India. (2017)
* 11th Annual Exhibition of Texas Association of Sculptors, Austin, USA. (2018)
* One-man show at Rukshaan Art Gallery, Mumbai, India. (2019)
* The Art of India, an exhibition by Times of India Group. (2022)
* 14th Annual Exhibition of Texas Association of Sculptors, Georgetown, Texas, USA. (2022)
* 16th Annual Texas Artists Coalition (TAC) Juried Exhibit, Fort Worth, Texas, USA. (2022)
* A beautiful Mind - Group show, Akara Art Gallery, Mumbai, India. (2023)
* Amalgam - Group show, Hutheesing Centre, Ahmedabad, India. (2023)
===Selected Public & Private Collections===
* Art Council Collection, South Centre, England.
* Fitzwilliam Museum of Cambridge, England.
* Royal College of Art, London, England.
* National Gallery of Modern Art, New Delhi, India.
* Salar Jung Museum, Hyderabad, India.
* Rupankar Museum of Fine Arts, Bhopal, India.
* Visvesvaraya Industrial and Technological Museum, Bangaluru, India.
* Telangana State Archeological Museum, Hyderabad, India.
* Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi, India.
* Ministry of Education, Government of India, New Delhi, India.
* Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Mumbai, India.
* Air India's art collection, India.
* Mukand Iron & Steel Works Limited, Mumbai, India.
* Punjab University Museum, Chandigarh, India.
* Birla Academy of Art and Culture, Kolkata, India.
* Subhash Chandra Bose Park, Municipal Corporation of Kochi, Cochin, India.
* United Phosphorus Limited (UPL), Mumbai, India. 
* Private art collections across the globe (India, USA, England, Canada, France, Sweden).
Category:1936 births
Category:Sculptors
Category:Photographers
Category:Visual arts
Category:Professors