User:Gyanesh Mishra

Gyanesh Mishra’s love for art led him to live in villages, where even today people say are the least bit safe. His passion began after a course he had attended at Patta Chitra, in Orissa. It was a very confusing time of his life as he always wondered on running things individually. But he was sure about one thing he loved every bit art, where fine art or traditional art, he had taken up everything. He suggested that the best way to learn was through the gurukula system, a very popular system even today, where a student goes to live with one’s teacher. Finally, he found Jatin Das in Delhi, who was the first to convert him from a painter to sculptor. Jatin Das has pointed out that he could see a lot of strength in this sculpture and pottery and later guided Mishra to go to Gurcharan Singh. So, in 1983, he went to Gurcharan Singh’s studio and spent 2 months, under his guidance. It was mostly in the evening, Gurcharan was very old, and every word he had spoken would be a quote. Mishra could spend only 2 months there, but it was long enough to learn a different technique. By 1990, Mishra had mastered quite a lot. He had learnt Patta paintings, which are the traditional painting of Orissa, then learnt Madhubani Paintings of Bihar at Mithila under his Guru Smt. *Leela Mishra at her Gurukula in the year 1982. In 1983, Mishra landed in Hyderabad to train in Nirmal painting at Chindal Basti and during the year of 1984 he trained in Thanka Paintings of Nepal, Kathmandu, under Guru **Sri. Saika. After going through his advanced training in Ceramic at the office of the development commissioner (Handicrafts) Govt. of India, Bangalore, Mishra learnt the Old Egg Tempura Painting of French Freshco Tradition at Alliance Franchaise de Bangalore during the year 1990. Finally he attempted to study his BFA at Chamrajendra in Mysore. Satisfied with work, his first show was about Patti Paintings. He had a sculpture show every now and then, mostly in terracotta. But Mishra never thought of doing things commercially, he thought only or art and for that he travelled from place to place. Learning the techniques was more important. Finances were never a problem. Mishra would stay at workshops and paint sign boards, do press work, black & white prints, etching and would end up earning 10 to 15 Rupees a day. It was not really difficult he would say. He felt that these days a lot artists think only about money and then art, a very stupid concept. Having stayed with people and having the same food they have and to do things that they would do was a very important way of learning their culture. He was also in Nepal and had absolutely no problems there. He had worked in a hut, where he had to clean everything, and survived by gathering fruits and a glass of milk. What more do you want, he would say. He has been all over India, village to village. The head of the district collector of Orissa had put Mishra in two villages, where he could teach people whatever was available. Pottery was the major subject. He also began to understand the way people think. Mishra would never compromise, “I am satisfied with my work. Whatever it is, pottery or bronze. There were experiences, people have cheated and I have spent a lot of money. But I’ve done it. That’s major thing for me. I painted with the influence of Jatin Das. If you look at my paintings, none of them look the same. I don’t carry a tag, like this is G. Mishra’s work. I get pleasure out of a work, it maybe sculpture or it may be painting. I’ve even designed my own door, I have that much time. I’ve also made my own furniture. So now you can call me a carpenter. It’s the design, concept, media is different, material is different and Pottery - no one give that pleasure. That is the soul. If you are not a good clay modeller then you can’t do anything.”

Mishra has also had a lot of shows in Bangalore, Mumbai, New Delhi, and several shows abroad, some in Bangkok and Mexico. His collections of terracotta sculptures are at the Orissa State Handicrafts Design Centre, The Wooden Museum at Manipal, The Davangera College of Art & craft and more.

Awards: In 1977, Mishra won the Nila Shaila Award Orissa for his paintings. In 1988, The Orissa State Handicraft Award for Terracotta. In 1989, the All India Exhibition Award, Bangalore for Terracotta. In 1995 The Dassara Award, Mysore for Terracotta In 1998 won the American Biographical Institute, USA for Terracotta.

His work has been well documented by Individuals (India) Inc. Bangalore for Ministry of Education (Documentary for children on Terracotta craft for NCERT) Doordarshan Kendra, Bangalore on Terracotta craft. Perfect vision, Bangalore for Doordarshan Kendra, Bangalore. Currently holding the position of Instructor in terracotta/Ceramic craft at RD&TDC, Govt. of India. Ministry of Textiles, Bangalore for the past of 19 years.