Mass Appeal

Faridabad-based Vij will unfurl his Sundial at Barapullah Nallah on Ring Road,near Sarai Kale Khan. Sponsored by the DDA,Vij’s sundial will be a V-shaped structure made of brass,will weigh 25,000 kg and will also show the time of the day. Instead of Roman numbers,Vij will be using Indian numerals. About 45 per cent of the work is complete. “We shall begin work at site from August. The sculpture will be unveiled in September,” says the 38-year-old.

The New Delhi Municipal Council,meanwhile,has short-listed seven artists. “They have been selected by the Public Arts Committee,” says NDMC spokesperson Anand Tewari. “The project has a budget of Rs 5 crore and is expected to be completed in 2011.” Sculptor Katt is one of the artists who have already been commissioned by the NDMC. The 62-year-old head of the department of fine arts and education at Jamia Millia Islamia says,“I am making a bronze and marble installation that will speak of eco-friendliness.” The size of the work and its location have yet to be finalised.

The NDMC is also considering a 30-ft sculpture proposed by Ghosh,who teaches product design at Visva-Bharati University. Titled Defoliation,it will show two dead leaves in stainless steel. “The proposed budget is Rs 80 lakh. If accepted,the work will be installed at Moti Lal Nehru Marg,” says Ghosh,37.

Kashmiri artist Rajendar Tiku,52,has been recommended by gallerist and committee member Renu Modi. Tiku plans to make a 20-ft-tall stone sculpture. “It will be like a rosary,which will denote the rich spiritual culture of India,” says the Srinagar-based artist.