Ramkinkar Baij

Ramkinkar Baij was a pioneer of modern Indian sculpture and painting, who broke free from the conventional norms and experimented with abstract and contextual forms. He was influenced by the life and culture of the rural and tribal people of Bengal, especially the Santhals. He also drew inspiration from the contemporary European art movements, such as Expressionism and Cubism. He was one of the first Indian artists to use cement concrete as a medium for sculpture, and also introduced oil painting and silk-screen printing in India. He was a prolific artist who created numerous sculptures, paintings, sketches, murals, and graphics in his long career. He was also a teacher at the Kala Bhavana of Visva-Bharati University in Shantiniketan, where he mentored many eminent artists. He was awarded the Padma Bhushan by the Government of India in 1970 for his contribution to Indian art. He died on August 2, 1980 in Kolkata after suffering from prostate gland disease. His works are displayed in various museums and galleries across India and abroad. He is widely regarded as a key figure of Contextual Modernism and the father of modern Indian sculpture.