Statement
My formal education is in painting, though my family's heritage has deeply influenced my artistic journey, particularly in sculpture. My family traditionally crafted clay toys and idols, and I spent my entire childhood creating these items, often depicting gods and goddesses. After earning a doctorate in painting, my interest gradually shifted towards sculpture, to which I now devote all my time.
India is known for its rich diversity of over 10,000 types of mineral stones. For the past two years, I have been collecting coloured stones and currently possess a collection of over 200 mineral stones. This includes unique and precious stones such as Jasper, Labradorite, Tourmaline, Sodalite, Carnelian, Lapis Lazuli, Agate, Rose Quartz, and Amethyst.
Creating sculptures from these stones presents significant challenges due to their hardness, which makes traditional carving methods impractical. Over the last two years, I have travelled extensively across the country, gathering information about these stones, understanding their properties, and exploring innovative carving techniques. This research and experimentation have allowed me to achieve some success in sculpting with semi-precious stones.
Initially, I focused on creating miniature sculptures. Now, my work has evolved into crafting large-scale sculptures and installations that combine semi-precious stones, wood, and bronze.
Through my sculptures, viewers can experience the natural beauty and vibrant colours inherent in these stones. Some stones are so exquisite that they seem to leave little room for additional artistic input. However, I have found a unique creative space within these stones, allowing me to bring my artistic vision to life.
Rambali Prajapati