By: Tayida Phanich
Edited by: Lina Gallo
A massive triangle jutting out of the Eurasian continent, South Asia takes on the form of a large peninsula surrounded by the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean. Home to one of the oldest civilizations, and the birthplace of major religions, like Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism, art in this region can be dated back thousands of years, with most drawing inspiration from religious influences, not only of those in the area but additional religions, like Islam, that has been infused into the population during conquests and explorations. Although there are a vast variety of different mediums, South Asia’s most notable one has to be sculptures, some even going as far as to consider it the “primary traditional art form ” of the region. Sculptures, along with infamous wall paintings and unique architecture blend and incorporate ideas and beliefs from their cultures to tell the tale of the region, from its history as a civilization, to its present religions and traditions. However, due to its vast details, this article will provide only a simplification of art in Southern Asia, focusing primarily on India, based on its developments in each time period.
The earliest sculptures in the region have been dated back to the second half of the third millennium CE during the reign of the Indus Valley Civilization who was situated in the river basins of Pakistan and Northwestern India. Although simple and sparse, the sculptures made of either terracotta, stone, or bronze were very refined, and impressive feats of art, depicting the mastery of three-dimensional volumes. Stone sculptures are considered the most famous, with such examples as the ‘Bearded Priest’, a bust of a bearded man with a detailed shawl, and the ‘Male Torso’, a red sandstone figure that depicts a man’s torso. Such subjects of humans and their figures were common in the region, so much so that it bled through the years, becoming a predominant subject of South Asian sculptures even today. These artworks used two distinct styles, one being a stylized aesthetic resembling Mesopotamian styles, the other a more relaxed, realistic style. Terracotta sculptures captured this earlier style, creating figures of humans in a more crude and abstract manner. This greatly differed from the realistic styles of the stone and bronze sculptures, the second of which use a special technique called “bronze casting” which actually covered wax figures with clay before filling them with molten metal to take its shape.
After the fall of the Indus Valley Civilization, little records of sculptures were found, only appearing again later in the 2nd century CE. Because of the gaining popularity of religions like Hinduism and Buddhism, sculptures of religious figures and beliefs followed. There followed an ‘inflated body’ style, a unique technique that depicted human figures realistically, but not anatomically accurately. Their limbs were simplified and enlarged as if they were filled with spiritual energy. Each religion had characteristic symbols or poses for their gods and beliefs such as different hand gestures that represented different meanings for sculptures of the Buddha, and antelopes or a trident for the god Shiva.
During the Kushan empire, which lasted from the 1st century CE to the 300s, Buddhist sculptures were very popular, with red sandstone being the popular medium. Additionally, this was the first appearance of the Buddha in a human form, as a result of a fusion of Greek culture and Buddhism. The Gupta period is often known as the golden age of North Indian art and for good reason. In many countries, sculptures of all religions grew in scale and detail. Sculptors began carving into walls and concrete and sculptures became life-sized or even larger, towering beings guarded by temple walls. A change in style came during the Pala and Sena empires, where deities were depicted more rigidly, with more jewelry and at smaller sizes with more detail. The thriving of these religious sculptures came to standstill however in the 1200s when Islamic rulers dominated the region, their initial conquerors destroying many sculptures. However, as the centuries passed, Islamic beliefs and styles were also incorporated into the region’s art most notably in the form of architecture as seen by the Taj Mahal. These were once again altered with the introduction of the British in the region, bringing with them European art styles and statues of their monarchy.
Although there are many similarities to the development and style of sculptures throughout the region, there are also unique characteristics of sculptures in each country as well. In Nepal, metal was the popular medium, with many surviving bronze sculptures. Drawing influence from mostly the Gupta period, Nepali art style differs in the greater exaggeration of the deity’s limbs, facial features, and posture. Similarly, instead of stone, Bangladeshi sculptures were typically made from terracotta, bronze, or an uncommon material, black stone. In Bhutan, sculptures are commonly made with clay, something known as Jim Dzo. Many religious statues like one of the buddha or dietes would be made with clay or paper mache and were sometimes decorated with vibrant colors on or behind temple walls.
In the present, there is a great decline in the creation of these sculptures as an art form. However, most of the olden sculptures are preserved in museums or temples, where people from all over the world, local and international, can admire the handicraft and techniques of each artwork and in turn the development of South Asian culture.
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