Sharad Kumar
Sharad Kumar was born into a family of Mithila artists on 7th September 1975 at Madhubani - his grandmother being Chandrakala Devi, a well-known traditional papier-mâché sculptor. As a contemporary artist, he has used these traditional techniques in his own sculptures, which have been exhibited in the galleries throughout India.
Mr. Kumar is also the founder and driving force behind Kohbar, an organization that collects, conserves, and documents work that expresses a new approach to traditional forms. Kohbar now has substantial collection of Mithila paintings that documents the transition from wall painting to works on paper. Other traditional forms that Kohbar has focused on are terracotta, sikki grass work, pithora, santals, sawara, gond paintings, cow dung, cotton-thread and paper pulp sculptures.
Encouraging contemporary traditional artists to create new works is central to Kohbar’s mission. Kumar’s vision expands the tradition to include not only the art that serves and unites the community but also transmits the individual artist’s voice, heart, and world.
Resumé
Award/Nominations/ Scholarship:
- 2002 National Award for the Master Craftsperson’s, Government of India, New Delhi
- 2003 Nominated for Society Achievers Award by Society Magazine, Bombay
- 1999 Scholarship from Kanoria Center for Art, Ahmedabad
- 1997 Honorable Manson, 5th All India Art exhibition, New Delhi
International Events:
- 2000 World Expositions’2000, Basic Needs Pavilion at Hanover, Germany
- 2002 The Silk Road, Smithsonian folk life festival, Washington D. C., U.S.A, at New Delhi
- 2004 Forum’2004, Lotus Bazaar at Barcelona, Spain
- 1995 Dongar’95 by Intach, Odmas & Saarthi at Koraput, Orrissa
Curatorial Experience:
- 2000 The Art of Mithila at Contemporary Art Gallery, Ahmedabad
- 2000 The Old Master’s at Contemporary Art Gallery, Ahmedabad
- 2003 Signed Memories-the Contemporary Art of Mithila at Cymroja Art Gallery, Bombay
- 2004 CII-BDI’s Pavilion at Consumer Forum, Calcutta
- 2004 CII-BDI’s Pavilion at IETF, Pragati Maidan, New Delhi
- 2005 Gobar-Shakti, an exhibition of Cow-dung sculptures at A.H.F., New Delhi
- 2005 Gobar-Shakti, an exhibition of Cow-dung sculptures at The Attic, New Delhi
- 2005 Installation on Guru-shishya Parampara at Dilli-Haat, New Delhi
- 2005 Signed Memories-Folk and Outsider’s Art at Academy of Fine Art, New Delhi
- 2006 Signed Memories-the Contemporary, folk and Outsiders Art at Palm Court Gallery, India Habitat Center in collaboration with Delhi Craft Council, New Delhi
Exhibitions/Participation:
- 1995 National Exhibition of Art, L.K.A., New Delhi
- 1995 All India Artist Camp, Jawahar Kala Kendra, L.K.A., Jaipur
- 1997 Rastriya Kala Mela, L.K.A., Bal Bhavan, New Delhi
- 1997 5th All India Art Exhibition, New Delhi
- 1999 Midnight Art Bazaar, Park Hotel, New Delhi
- 1999 Joint Show at Contemporary Art Gallery, Ahmedabad
- 1999 Joint Show at Fortune Hotel Landmark, Ahmedabad
- 1999 Folk and Tribal Art at Art-Konsult, New Delhi
- 2000 Beyond the Surface, Gallery Espace, New Delhi
- 2003 The Unshackled Spirit, Ravindra Bhavan, New Delhi
- 2003 The Silent Protest at Academy of Fine Arts, New Delhi
Demonstrations/Design and Technical Development Workshops:
- 1996 Designed Backdrop for Annual Design Award’96 at Lee Meridian, New Delhi
- 1996 Designed Backdrop for Saksharta Mahotsav, National Literacy Mission, New Delhi
- 1996 Imparted training at C.C.R.T. for school teachers, New Delhi
- 1997 UNESCO’S skill based education & training program for slum children’s, New Delhi
- 1998 Workshop for school children with W.W.F.-Nature, India, New Delhi
- 1998 Instructed Action Aid India’s Rehabilitation program for slum children, New Delhi
- 1999 Workshop for hundred Maithili painters on The Hunger Project, Madhubani
- 2000 Demonstrated at National Handicraft Museum, New Delhi
- 2001 Designed Tableaux of Bihar for Republic Day Parade, New Delhi
- 2001 Workshop with SPIC-MACAY, New Delhi
- 2001 Demonstrated at American embassy School, New Delhi
- 2002 Workshop with SPIC-MACAY in VIRASAT’02, Patna
- 2002 Workshop at Academy of Fine Arts, Bombay
Sponsored by O/o. the Development commissioner (Handicraft):
- 2000 Costume Jewellery, D. H. H., Gangtok, Sikkim
- 2002 Papier-mache, Dastakari Haat Samiti, Sarai kella, Jharkhand
- 2003 Jute & Embroidery, Jan Jagriti Kendra, Kurushetra, Harayana
- 2003 Jute & Embroidery, Adarsh Gram Udyog Samiti, Karnal, Harayana
- 2003 Hand Embroidery, S.P.Y.M., Gurgaon, Harayana
