Dialogue in wood

LAUNCH

Karl Antao is keeping his fingers crossed. The 38-year-old, Mumbai-based sculptor says that out of the 16-odd sculptures on display at the India Habitat Centre (IHC) in Delhi, six have been sold.

"I can't really say they're sold until the buyers pay me and take the sculptures home," he explains. Prices range from Rs 75,000 to Rs 3 lakh and the show is on at the Open Palm Court at IHC till April 7 and on view at Gallery Espace in the city between 8 and 15 April.

Antao's show "" his first in Delhi "" has works made only of wood. "It's an interesting medium, especially teak wood," he says. "I quite like the grains in teak." Wood suits his temperament also "" "I'm sort of restless; can't stick to something for too long," he points out.

As opposed to stone, sculpting in wood is less time consuming. He has worked in various mediums including solid paper pulp, ropes and clay. His next foray will most likely to be in brass.

The sculptor, who had earlier worked as a visualiser with an advertising agency, says he has no regrets about taking up sculpting full time. "I was always interested in sculptures, right through my college days at Mumbai's J J Institute. In the beginning it's difficult selling one's works."

In the contemporary art boom, sculpture surprisingly plays second fiddle to paintings and other assorted bric-a-brac. "It's the consciousness level. I think it'll take at least another 10 years or so for sculpture to find it's true worth. But again good work from reputed artists are rarely found in the open market. When was the last time did you see a Ram Kinkar Baij at an auction?" he says.

Besides lack of public interest and apathy on the part of art critics, Antao says even the government isn't doing enough to promote sculpture. And goes on to add that in countries like South Korea, the government has earmarked public spaces where sculptors can show their works.

However, Antao has still managed to sell his sculptures to the Birlas, Ambanis, Jindals and Godrejs. "I wouldn't say that I've arrived. It's simply that I've been at it for over 12 years now. Some works will obviously sell," he says self-effacingly.