The research team for the Animation Workshop that has just started in Imphal made a visit to the accomplished master artist Shri Gurumayun Shyamsunder to gain inspiration from his outstanding sculptures. Shyamsunder began learning to sculpt at the age of ten, from his grandfather and he has devoted his life to the art.
All his sculptures are carved out of a single root incorporating its natural shape into the design. The themes of his work are derived from nature, the mythology of Manipur and reflections on its turbulent history. Indigenous deities are often depicted, such as Wangpurel, the God of Birth and Death, and Phouibi, the Goddess of Wealth. “She is the daughter of Koubru (a hill that is sacred to both the Meitei and the Kabui communities). She was sent to by her father to spread fortune on the land, but a deer misled her. She met with an accident and she was drowning in the great river: It was the insect Noushek who was able to bring her up from the depths - and then there was a bird who helped to save her”, explains Shyamsunder, relating the story of Phouibi.
Shyamsunder has exhibited in Singapore, Mumbai and Delhi. He attributes everything to God - the inspiration for his work and the skill that it takes to make these large detailed wooden sculptures. In 2011 he presented one of his largest sculptures, the Taoroini Throne to the Manekshaw Centre and at present he is working on a throne which he plans to present to the Prime Minister of India. He has already been working on the throne for over eight months, and he anticipates that it will take a further three months at least to complete. “On the left side is the Pakhamba of the moon, and on the right, the Pakhangba of the sun. On the back of the throne is the life-giving Pakhangba and on the reverse side, a Pakhangba for protection is depicted”, he explains. (Pakhangba is a serpent-dragon deity and an important symbol in traditional Manipuri culture).
Shyamsunder prefers not to sell his work. Many of his sculptures take years to complete, and he would like this cultural documentation to be available to the public in his gallery, which is a tribute to the theme of three mothers: The natural mother, mother earth and the mother tongue. He also reveals that he prefers to work peacefully at night and he does not make any preliminary design sketches but ‘sees’ the sculpture in his mind first. Sometimes he even works with a blindfold he reveals. He would like to teach the younger generation his art, but at present his students are exclusively from his family as he does not have the means to provide for more students.
All his sculptures are carved out of a single root incorporating its natural shape into the design. The themes of his work are derived from nature, the mythology of Manipur and reflections on its turbulent history. Indigenous deities are often depicted, such as Wangpurel, the God of Birth and Death, and Phouibi, the Goddess of Wealth. “She is the daughter of Koubru (a hill that is sacred to both the Meitei and the Kabui communities). She was sent to by her father to spread fortune on the land, but a deer misled her. She met with an accident and she was drowning in the great river: It was the insect Noushek who was able to bring her up from the depths - and then there was a bird who helped to save her”, explains Shyamsunder, relating the story of Phouibi.
Shyamsunder has exhibited in Singapore, Mumbai and Delhi. He attributes everything to God - the inspiration for his work and the skill that it takes to make these large detailed wooden sculptures. In 2011 he presented one of his largest sculptures, the Taoroini Throne to the Manekshaw Centre and at present he is working on a throne which he plans to present to the Prime Minister of India. He has already been working on the throne for over eight months, and he anticipates that it will take a further three months at least to complete. “On the left side is the Pakhamba of the moon, and on the right, the Pakhangba of the sun. On the back of the throne is the life-giving Pakhangba and on the reverse side, a Pakhangba for protection is depicted”, he explains. (Pakhangba is a serpent-dragon deity and an important symbol in traditional Manipuri culture).
Shyamsunder prefers not to sell his work. Many of his sculptures take years to complete, and he would like this cultural documentation to be available to the public in his gallery, which is a tribute to the theme of three mothers: The natural mother, mother earth and the mother tongue. He also reveals that he prefers to work peacefully at night and he does not make any preliminary design sketches but ‘sees’ the sculpture in his mind first. Sometimes he even works with a blindfold he reveals. He would like to teach the younger generation his art, but at present his students are exclusively from his family as he does not have the means to provide for more students.
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