The Life of Form in Indian Sculpture

Recently, ancient Indian sculpture has entered into the mainstream of world art scholarship and has been approached from many different perspectives. However, little has concretely been said about the creative processes and the universal will to form structures as it is manifested in the great body of ancient and medieval stone sculpture. In fact, the mental and psychic world of the ancient chief architect and the artists working under his direction and their artistic and aesthetic challenges and solutions have received only scant attention, even though all other considerations become more or less irrelevant if the artist's prime role is neglected or overlooked.

The present study outlines definite criteria for recognizing intrinsic qualities underlying and immanent in all styles and in works of sculpture of major significance, with focus on the interrelationships amongst artist, statue, temple and devotee.

About the Author:

A sculpture and photographer, Carmel Berkson's ormer publications include studies o the Elephanta. Aurangabad and Ellora cave temples and a recent analysis o the Mahisamardini myth.

From the back of the book:

The true artist is primarily concerned with instilling life into from. The ancient Indian sculptor was deeply involved with nature. He created symbolic entities, reflecting the processes of organic form evolution

Countering contemporary fragmentations, the study of the entire corpus encourages the students to approach Indian sculptures in their true light as single events in a grand holistic system.

About Ellora, Concept and Style

"Art historical studies have for too long been equated with mere historical and cultural placements of art specimens in a chronological framework. Professional evaluation of the art style has been a rare phenomenon….Carmel Berkson's professional skills give her exceptional credentials for delving into the intrinsic and functional insights of rock-cut temple art in India."

K.V. Soundara Rajan
Indian Review of Books

George Michell
Journal of the London
School of Oriental Studies