Artist Neeraj Gupta's Makrana marble sculpture at Delhi's Bikaner House generating curiosity

New Delhi: Neeraj Gupta's sculpture, "As the Wind Rises", installed at the entrance to Gate No. 2 of Bikaner House in Delhi, is generating considerable curiosity. Carved from a single stonnee of timeless pink Makrana marble, this 4.2-tonne, 10-foot-tall work is attracting visitors either out of curiosity or fascination with its flowing lines and curves. This monumental work represents a contemporary exploration of form, movement, and meaning within Indian sculptural traditions. A glance reveals how the artist has transcended traditional boundaries and given Indian sculptural forms a new dimension.

"Art is inherently subjective. Its purpose is to enable people to appreciate and remember a work of passion," says Neeraj Gupta, president of the Delhi Art Society.

It took Neeraj eight months to complete his work. Pink Makrana marble, from the Nagaur district of Rajasthan, is not an easy material to work with.

The idea for this uplifting artwork came to Neeraj a year ago when he realised that the displacement of the living and organic from civilisation would soon be too far gone with the development of tools and mechanical minds. He says that good art is not descriptive but rather a carrier of culturally distilled emotions and is open to multiple interpretations.

His sculpture features undulating curves at the base that gradually merge into intertwined structures at the upper level. According to Neeraj, "These curves embody a sense of movement and churning—a metaphor for the eternal processes of creation, growth, and change; the curved lines flow into each other and expand into a composition full of rhythm and resonance." For some viewers, this sculpture evokes a cosmic churning of energies; for others, a harmony of contradictions, or unity in diversity. The abstract yet organic form inspires thought, contemplation, and dialogue.

Neeraj deliberately combined natural textures, carved in a rough manner, with painstakingly polished surfaces to break the monotony and evoke the multi-layered emotions depicted in the stone. He says, "It is a contemporary exploration of form, movement, and meaning to enhance the contemplative character." Silent yet powerful, this sculpture symbolises creativity and serves as a reminder of the timeless dialogue between tradition and modernity, harmony and continuity, that shapes Indian art.

The sculpture will remain at Bikaner House for a year. This artwork is not only a public symbol of creativity and cultural identity but also a reminder of the eternal dialogue between tradition and modernity that continues to shape Indian art today.

Neeraj's sculpture demonstrates how Indian sculptural traditions have matured and the need for global platforms to showcase this evolution.

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