The works of Preetpal Singh

Shillong, July 27: The latest work of Preetpal Singh, modern-day sculptor, is almost finished and will be put up for display next week at the National Academy of Arts, New Delhi. He is one of the 12 artists and the only one from the Northeast selected to display his work at the forthcoming human figure show being held from August 5 at the academy.

His present work, in which he has portrayed a human body passing through diverse theological and illogical aspects of the world, is being made with clay and he calls the body a vehicle of feelings and emotions.

A renowned artist whose works have been recognised worldwide, Preetpal has a suggestion for those wanting to enhance their creativity level. ?Be hungry. Be insecure,? he says.

According to him, man should be left insecure to blossom as an artist. ?An artist?s thought process would be better only if he feels emotional insecurity or financial insecurity. Once he lives in a comfort zone, his ideas become materialistic and would never reflect the true picture of the world.? says Preetpal.

Born and brought up in Shillong, Preetpal?s passion for art in the form of sculpture developed even when he was a child. It led him to graduate with distinction in sculpture from M.S. University of Baroda, along with two university academic awards.

During the last 20 years, he has received numerous national and international awards.

He was a visiting faculty to various reputed national and international art institutes like National Institute of Fashion Technology and National Institute of Design.

In addition, he was artist-in-residence, Bagfactory Studios, Johannesburg, South Africa and invited artist-in-residence, ministry of culture, Munich. He was a member of the advisory board of Lalit Kala Akademi for so many years. He has a German wife, who is a psychiatrist and as well as an expert Kathak dancer trained under Birju Maharaj,

Preetpal was never interested in taking up full-time employment though reputed institutes from all over the world have offered him the chance to do so.

However, he is more than happy to teach young artists from the Northeast if he ever gets a chance and has not ruled out the idea of starting a training academy for young and budding artists.

?There is a lot of talent available in the region. The only thing you have to do is polish it,? he says.