Col Jaspal Singh Chandaok exhibits driftwood artefacts

Colonel Jaspal Singh Chandaok (retd) has transformed his home into a captivating mini museum. The exhibition, a deeply personal reflection of his lifelong passions, features hand-sculpted driftwood artefacts, portraits, photographs and cherished mementos collected over years of travel.

A self-taught artist with no formal training, Col Chandaok’s creativity finds an expression through a variety of mediums, showcasing his interests in art, woodcraft, travel, music and portraiture.

The first room displays 10 intricately crafted driftwood artefacts highlighting his vivid imagination. Among them, the most impressive is a large dinosaur sculpture, resting on four legs with a prominent jaw — his largest and most time-consuming creation. Several unique lamp pieces also adorn the space, designed to blend beauty with utility.

Col. Chandaok developed a fascination with driftwood after discovering its hidden artistic potential. He personally selects and collects each piece of wood and accompanying materials.

Other notable pieces include Alien, a conceptual work suggesting the future arrival of extra-terrestrial beings; Dancer, which delicately balances on two knees; Dragon and Scarecrow. A sculpture inspired by his love for golf captures the elegance and precision of a player’s mid-swing.

In the living area, visitors are transported across the globe through over 250 souvenirs collected from his travels to 35 countries during 17 international visits. Each item is accompanied by photo albums complete with captions, offering a personal and narrative-rich chronicle of his journeys. His last overseas visit was to Uzbekistan in 2019. A strong believer in do-it-yourself art, Col. Chandaok created an artistic representation of Niagara Falls using recycled materials. Concludes today.