Premalya Singh, (born 1930) is a sculptor who lives and works in New Delhi. Her bronze and terracotta sculpture evoke ancient figurative traditions, yet are undeniably spare and contemporary.
Premalya trained at Shantinketan and the Delhi Art College. She was fortunate enough to work under the guidance of some of India's greatest modern masters, particularly Nandlal Bosse, Ramkinkar and Dhanraj Bhagat, all of whom strove for simplicity and detested pretentiousness. Premalya then travelled widely, and later worked in the studios of artists in the Hague and joined the Fine Arts Department of New York University.
Premalya's work takes apparently simple subjects drawn from life around her, such as boys at play, performers, pilgrims and couples going about their daily business, These beautiful studies are distinct individuals rather than types or symbols. Yet the figures are captured in moments of being - joy, repose and utter self-forgetfulness - that allow them to transcend time and place.
Premalya also draws her inspiration from classical Indian literature, such as the Geet Govinda, the 11th Century poem that celebrates the love of Krishna and Radha. She is also fascinated by the form of Ganesha and the power of the river goddesses, the life-givers.
Premalya's work has been described as being 'as emotionally condensed as it is artistically rich'. It has great strength and harmony of form. Terracotta is her medium of choice. The controlled forms and earth colours she uses are unaffected and direct.
Premalya's work is in collection at the National Gallery of Modern Arts in New Delhi, and across the world.
Ravi Shankar and Premalya at her solo show in September 2007
Premalya Singh Press Release 2007
Article by Indian Design and Interiors Aug - Sept 97
Chiselled_Serendipity.pdf (1.3MB)
EXHIBITIONS & COLLECTIONS
The National Gallery of Modern Art, New Delhi
Roopankar, Bharat Bhavan, Bhopal
ITC Ltd, New Delhi
'Bronzes and Terracottas', One Person Show, 1990, New Delhi
'Metal and Clay' One Person Show, 1994, Mumbai
St Mathews Gallery Group Show 1989, London
GV Art Exhibition 2005 & 2006, London
Mobile Creches at India Habitat Centre, New Delhi
Artists for Kargil, New Delhi
B C Sanyal Centenary Exhibition, Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts, New Delhi
Homage to Bhuj, Academy of Fine Arts and Literature, New Delhi
SEHMAT School of Arts & Aesthetics, JNU, New Delhi
Indian Artists for France, New Delhi
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