Artist Introduction
Elanchezhiyan was born in 1980 in the famous temple town Thiruvarur which was then a part of Thanjavur district. He completed his MFA in Sculpture from Govt. College of Fine Arts, Kumbakonam in 2009 and his M Phil from Tamil University in Thanjavur in 2010.
He has showcased his work in solo and group shows in many prestigious forums across the country including Lalit Kala Akademi, Delhi, Jahangir Art Gallery, Mumbai, Cholamandal Artist Village, Chennai, India Art Fair, Delhi. He has received many accolades and recognitions for his work.
He was awarded the All India best sculpture award in Arayana, Kolkatta in 2008. He received the National Junior research Fellowship, Ministry of Culture, New Delhi from 2010-2012 and Lalit Kala Akademi scholarship in 2013-2014.
Elanchezhiyan is a versatile artist who works with multiple mediums like mud, ceramic, stone, wood and brass in his sculptures. He resides in Chennai with his studio in Panaiyur.
About the Sculpture
There is a significant story behind this Jallikattu Series. Before starting on this series of sculptures, I was deeply involved in creating my Kalari series. Over the course of that work, I completed more than 100 pieces of art. It never crossed my mind that I had done so much or that I needed new inspiration. Then, I had gone to my hometown, a village where cattle are a common sight. One morning, while sitting with my sketchpad, I found myself captivated by the movements of the cows grazing nearby. This close observation became the seed for what has grown into my Jallikattu series.
However, the inspiration goes beyond simple observation. Cattle have been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. As a child, I spent much of my time with them. The driving force behind this connection was my father. He was a schoolteacher, but he also worked in agriculture. We had many cattle, and while my friends were out playing on weekends, I would either be studying or helping with the animals. My father often made me take my books to the fields while grazing the cows, so I could study there. At the time, I found this quite frustrating. I wanted to read without distraction. Little did I know, those experiences would later influence both my livelihood and my way of life.
When I began observing the cows again, it struck me that I should draw inspiration for a new series based on Jallikattu, our traditional Tamil martial art involving bulls. I wanted to capture the energy, speed, and power of Jallikattu in my art. While drawing would have been an easier medium, I chose the challenge of representing it 3D through sculpture.
I travelled to Madurai to closely study Jallikattu, understanding that to truly depict it in sculpture, I needed to experience it firsthand. That visit marked the beginning of my deep involvement in this work. Usually, sculptures are first crafted in clay, but I prefer to work directly with wax, starting from the bull's head and moving down to its tail. Having created so many sculptures in this series, the process has become second nature to me. I can now capture any moment of Jallikattu with clarity and precision.
Each of my sculptures is unique, even down to the fingerprints left in the wax. You will never see the same impact or expression repeated in another piece from this series. From the initial moulding to coring, casting, filing, and finishing, I handle every detail personally. There is a sense of completion and fulfilment I feel only when I do the entire process from start to finish.
I’ve been working on the Jallikattu series for more than 13 years now. I started it while I was a resident artist at Lalit Kala Akademi. One of my works from this series was purchased by another artist, a moment that was particularly special for me. It’s not unusual for a client to buy artwork, but when an artist is inspired enough to make a purchase, it feels extraordinary.
To date, I’ve created over 500 sculptures in the Jallikattu series -perhaps even more. This brings me immense happiness. Since my journey with this series began in Madurai, seeing my sculptures displayed there holds a special place in my heart.
