Colombian Sculptor Claudia Hakim Solos in New Delhi

Written by Curtis Bhagat Tuesday, 29 December 2009 21:22

New Delhi - An exhibition organised to commemorate the celebrations of the 50th year of Diplomatic relations between India and Colombia. ‘Signs of Skin’ are works of a well established Colombian Artist Claudia Hakim who started her artistic career in the late 1970’s. Since then she has explored different thematic arrangements communicating a rich artistic language in a direct and concrete manner. Hakim applies her skill and clarity to the definition of the sculptural language. Her work has the capability to induce the senses to the point of generating a wish to interact with it. The themes that she addresses and the new ideas that are suggested are conveyed to the visitor in a magical way.

The works of the exhibition at the National Gallery of Modern Art, New Delhi, draw their inspiration from jewellery and textiles. The resulting environmental sculptures encourage visitors to participate in the work as some works appear to be magnified necklaces and arm rings. For Hakim, this participation and the communication with the visitors has become an artistic necessity. Hakim’s sculptures directly expresses her commitment to her creative impulse and the permanent dialogue she holds with the fundamental essence of her art. Basic materials, such as rings, bolts, springs, screws, metallic sheets are elements she uses as modular parts in her work. They are the substance on which she draws both her bi and tri-dimensional concepts. Inspired by fabric weaving, she manipulates and transforms these basic elements turning them superlative sculptures. The works are a variety of orderly and rigorous geometrical forms, however at times they are fluid and more free flowing. The multiplication of the forms leads, invariably, to a clear, clean and defined object. The tactile, seasonal appeal and the malleability of the sculptures make them even richer, more magnificent.

The sculptural language that Claudia Hakim has developed in a rigorous way constitutes a significant milestone in Colombia’s artistic landscape. She bravely assumes the magnificence of scale in her work and builds on the necessity of creating mega-projects.

The idea of a national art gallery of modern art to germinate and bear fruit was first mooted in 1949. It was nurtured carefully by Prime Minister Jawahar Lal Nehru and Maulana Azad, sensitive bureaucrats like Humayun Kabir and an active art community. Vice-president Dr S Radhakrishanan formally inaugurated the NGMA in the presence of Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and artists and art lovers of the city on March 29, 1954. NGMA’s inauguration was marked by an exhibition of sculptures. All the prominent sculptors of the time like Debi Prasad Roy Chowdhury, Ramkinkar Baij, Sankho Chaudhuri, Dhanraj Bhagat, Sarbari Roy Chowdhury and others had participated.