“For Dhruva Mistry, the stories, figures and symbols of Hinduism and Buddhism are a rich source of inspiration for his figurative sculptures and wall reliefs."
-Rupert Martin, 1987
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This week, the Friday Find is focussing on work by sculptor Dhruva Mistry. This edition has been researched and published by Sanaya Havaldar.
After studying at the Faculty of Fine Arts, M. S. University, Baroda and gaining a British Council Scholarship to the Royal College of Art, Dhruva Mistry moved to London, where he studied from 1981 to 1983. Having worked with stone, metal and steel, Mistry's recent works explore digitally controlled laser-cutting techniques, a methodology he has been experimenting with since 2001. Mistry plays on the viewer's perceptions as we are invited to explore the sculpture by looking at them, into them, round them, and through them, their shape changing at every angle.
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His work often draws inspiration from ancient civilisations, literature and re-examinations of mythology and religion. The sculptures we have selected for this week's Friday Find are two works by Dhruva Mistry. These works were acquired from the artist and sold by Grosvenor Galleryaround ten years ago to Baron Diego von Buch. His collection, which featured works by other renowned sculptors, including Lalanne, Fernando Botero and Anish Kapoor, was subsequently sold by Christie's.
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Sitting Bull, 1985, Kettle's Yard
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River, 1994
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When introducing Dhruva Mistry in the catalogue for the Hayward Annual exhibition, A Journey Through Contemporary Art, 1985, Nigel Greenwood wrote “Of all the artists in the show, Dhruva Mistry is one of the most elusive. This is not surprising. He arrived from India as a technically assured sculptor. He brought with him a fully formed personality”. The show at the Hayward featured the works of Henry Moore, Francis Bacon and Bridget Riley.
Mistry went on to have two solo shows at Nigel Greenwood Gallery, establishing himself as a force in British sculpture.
Grosvenor Gallery exhibited these works again in 2011.
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