Artist Sanjiv Sankkpal captures a language seen, not heard with his art

Artist Sanjiv Sankkpal captures a language seen, not heard with his art

“The human body has its own language. Your body reacts differently when you are angry, emotional or happy. This is a distinct language and I enjoy capturing it on canvas and sculpture,” says Sanjiv Sankkpal.

“If it is on canvas, it is through the use of colour, line and texture, whereas if I am depicting it with a sculpture, form and size play an important role,” says the artist, whose exhibition Beyond the Curve, is currently ongoing at Gallery Time and Space.

Curated by Renu George, the exhibition showcases around 20 paintings, 16 sketches and 18 sculptures crafted by Sanjiv. Whether in the play of light on skin or the imagined feel of curved warmth, Sanjiv’s art and sculptures capture the glory of the human form in diverse stages of repose and movement.

No surprise then, that Sanjiv being a nature lover, animals also appear in his work. “Animals possess a different anatomy and so, their emotions and language are different from ours. In all of Nature, humans are the only creatures who have left our natural state either to don more clothes in winter or use devices to keep us cool in summer. Everything else — birds, animals and plants — exist as they always have. Still, to me, the human form is the most beautiful in creation.”

The horse is often spotted in Sanjiv’s work. “It is my favourite animal; a symbol of power, force and grace,” he says.

Hailing from Nipani in Karnataka’s district of Belgaum, Sanjiv who pursued his art education in Kolhapur and Mumbai’s JJ School of Arts credits artists Ravindra Mestri, MR Deshmukh, KB Kulkarni and GS Majgaokar for mentoring him.

“I believe I always wanted to draw and paint. That’s all I can remember of my childhood, not sports or studying. And since we could not buy art material, I would draw on the floor, walls and the road using bits of chalk and pencil. I have only been interested in art; it is my passion.”