This book on South Indian Bronzes in the Sarabhai Foundation captures the visual and aesthetic impact these outstanding images leave on the spectator. Serving as a catalogue, with textual and photographic studies, the work springs into space the different manifestations of Godhood that were devoutly visualized, aesthetically created, and spiritually experienced, in the early part of Pallava and Chola periods. South Indain Bronzes were made for festive worship and processions in the temples. They enlivened the people in their restpective regions, with poetry, music, dance and congregations in the daily, seasonal and annual cycles. Besides being perfect models of artistic expression, they went beyond to elevate the mind to experience a joy of becoming. Inspired by this classicism and acquired by Gautam Sarabhai, the collection in the Foundation represent the best of Pallava and Chola periods, and constitute rare and vaied forms. Ranked among the masterpieces of the world, some of these bronzes, like Tripura-vijaya, Uma, Rishi Patni, Mahesvari and the Royal figures, have been the source of delight of art connosseiurs the world over.
They have appeared several times in Books and Journals, but his is the first time they appear collectively in one volume, in refreshingly original colour and angles. The book wil let in the viewer to experience the flavour of unforgettable beauty in an ideal setting.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR R Nagaswamy
Dr. R. Nagaswamy, is the author of many books in English and Tamil including Master pieces of South Indian Bronzes, Siva Bhakti etc. He has also edited several books including Foundations of Indian Art (Proceedings of the Chidambaram Seminar on Art and Religion). He has organized several District, State, National and International Conferences like the International conference on Mahabharata-Madras, 2003. Dr. R. Nagaswamyu has delivered lectures in almost all leading Universities of the world spread over France, Germany, Denmark, USSR, Sweden, UK, Canada and USA (including at Harvard, Pennsylvania, Cornell, Berkeley, Los Angeles, Austin, South Carolina and Other places). He has toured in Thailand and Combodia and made an extensive study of South East Asian Art, Monuments, Religion and Inscriptions. He directed Sound and Light programme at the 17th cent. Nayak Palace at Madurai and was the first to undertake Underwater Archaeological exploration off the coast of Pumpuhar in Tamilnadu. Appeared as an expert witness in the London High Court on behalf of Government of India, in the famous London Nataraja Case. He is the recipient of several public honours including the title Kalaimamani conferred by the Government of Tamil Nadu for his signal contribution to Tamil art and literature. He is the Founder Trustee of the Chidambaram Natyanjali Trust. Justice Ian Kennedy, Judge, London High Court, mentioned in his judgement (1988) that 'Dr. R. Nagaswamy, I am satisfied, is an unequalled expert in his subject'.
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