SCULPTURE MAGAZINE | Manav Gupta | Featured Article | 08-07-2020

“Manav Gupta affirms the age-old sanctity of earth and clay, assembling everyday objects made by potters from across India to create huge installations that convey hope, passion, and the journey and transience of life. Using just a few types of functional items—the diya lamp, the kullad tea cup, and the chilam smoking pipe—he succeeds in creating something contemporary yet timeless in its ability to tell a powerful story. Massed in their hundreds and thousands, these humble items gain new significance, as tradition reimagined makes an eloquent case for sustainable practices that respect the earth’s resources while transforming the familiar into something completely unconventional, unexpected, and magical.” – Sculpture Magazine

“I am simply walking the path of infinity with a life dedicated to art. If my humble drop in the ocean can help bring about the change in thinking that is so needed in today’s crass, commercialized, mechanized existence, if it can add a dab of spiritual context to the world as it takes art and culture as a vehicle of change across boundaries, it makes my artistic process that much more fulfilling” – Manav Gupta

Down To Arth: How Manav Gupta Uses Meaningful Artwork In Terracotta To Bring Clay Back To Nature

A few years ago, at a display of Delhi-based artist Manav Gupta’s works in Minneapolis, visitors asked him if earthen lamps would survive the snow. Gupta uses clay objects in his body of work, where he embraces nature and architecture. Earthen lamps – his ingredient for the persistent in-depth probe into nature through gigantic installations, were making viewers curious. Gupta’s love for clay, especially the earthen lamp, is deep. So, to quell all doubts regarding life and longevity of clay, he left ‘Shrinking River’, one of the installation works, in Minneapolis snow.

Clay, mud, maati – the steel of Indian art history – lies fairly unexplored in public art and other display avenues. Gupta’s work brings it back, from earth to art. He says, “it is a myth that clay cannot stand tough conditions, or that it is perishable. When I left the ‘Shrinking River’ in snow, people were surprised. They understood my belief in clay. They understood clay and its permanence, the fragility of life, our belief in nature and elements as sacred.” He adopted clay as his medium, extensively, in 2013.

No other artist uses clay and pottery in public art like Manav Gupta. His works on nature and climate change are extensive, in harmony with themes and sites he chooses, and soul stirring. In the back drop of the recent Kerala floods, his series, ‘Arth’ (meaning), stands as the most gentle and revolutionary expression of art exposed to rain, trees and sunlight. Depletion of natural resources, recreating and sustaining, are at the core of the series.

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Gupta relies on architecture and nature to produce installation works out of material, which, if not meticulously blended into his philosophy and thought, would mingle in surroundings – as any other mundane clay object meant for use, as dust. In his art work, these objects become more than mere ‘useful’ kiln-burnt pieces of utility. They acquire meaning. They become grains of a flow – moments in a story and chapters in Arth, the continuing series of works dedicated to nature and environment. They transform into remnants of an element, beaded together. Assembled together, woven into various patterns with the help of thin wires and knots. “Weaving happens differently. For softer flow, I use chilum,” he adds.

In order to connect rivers, people, rain forests and other aspects of nature and life through works of installation that are global in language and Indian in soul, he is required to drop something in particular, regularly. “The pedestal (of high art and perceptions and activism associated with high art).” It is relieving to see his art at a healthy distance from a couple of aspects. First – the elitist approach of looking at nature in language and art work. Second – the piercing cacophony of activism. He believes in simplicity.

Time Machine, Beehive Garden, the Noah’s Ark, the Bed of Life are built around metaphors. He wanted to give a message. “The humble clay can serve as luxury.” He adds, “I was surprised to see people at a mall, where my works were displayed, connecting with the works. Similarly, at the most premium addresses in mega cities. People were surprised. They were not sitting at cafes. They were looking at the river. You’ve got to engage the audience right. I believe in people’s intelligence.” He pays attention to viewers’ perception.

The beehives are honey sweet punctuation on trees. They display workmanship, thought, patience, control precision and form. Kulhads – in every work – become the cups of life. He says, “It was very difficult to arrive at the most natural depiction of aspects of nature in general and the beehives in particular. For me, it was important that the form of the beehive remains as natural as possible. The larger beehives just followed. A beehive can turn artificial very easily and quickly. One has to be careful.”

Times of India | The Excavated Museum – Manav Gupta | Uma Nair, Art Critic | 31-01-2017

Manav Gupta is truly a unique genius – the thinker and the visionary is hailed by critics as one of the most erudite and versatile contemporary artists today. After a hundred thousand footfalls at the India Habitat Centre in New Delhi a year ago at his Ganga waterfront; and taking it across the Mississippi and the Hudson in USA last year as part of his Global Public Art Project on sustainbility connecting rivers of the world, he has created an entire ‘excavated museum’ at the DLF Mall of India at Sector 18, Noida till the 18th Feb 2017 with a suite of five mega environmental art installations that punctuate different spaces in the Mall.

Why ‘excavations in hymns of clay’ ? His phiolsophy and artsit statement bring out the uniqueness behind the whole first of its kind concept of a solo project of environmental art by any artist as a travelling museum and public art for sustainable development.

As a part of his outreach programme of evolving, site specific and dynamic multiple edition solo public art projects across the world he deploys the quintessentially Indian potter’s produce of clay objects such as the earthen lamps (“diyas”), local cigar (“chilam”), earthen cups (“kullar”) to transform their individual identity into metaphors and idioms of sustainability, context, perception and treatment as he conceptualizes and creates large scale avant-garde works; using the rural Indian pottery meant for everyday use, in mass numbers, he deconstructs their age old existence as units to make them lend themselves to another form, be it in a Duchamp like inverted concept or simply rendering them formless.

“Water and all five elements of nature are our source of sustenance. Ancient civilizations from India to the world over respected and understood this sanctity. While they drew nourishment from the great rivers. Be it our sacred Ganga or the Mississippi. As we grow, its time, we excavate the ancient philosophy of sustainable living. And we are all clay. Dust to dust. My art seeks to submit to this paradigm. Hence ‘excavations in hymns of clay.” – Manav Gupta

A Wealth of Meaning – The Statesman | Aruna Bhowmick

essays, news, reviews

FRESH, MINIMALISTIC, INNOVATIVE AND ORIGINAL
In this installation, with a minimalistic approach, the artist depicts his philosophy in understated tones that touch deeply and reverberate, lingering in the mind long after the visual engagement ends.
ARCHITECTURE+DESIGN, June 2013
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(i) ALL FOR EARTH :
Gupta’s recent mega installation uses earthen lamps as metaphors on environmental issues.
In its entirety it can fill the Tate Turbine Hall.
The artist has four entries in this year’s Limca Book of Records.
(i) Divya Kaushik, THE PIONEER
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MANAV GUPTA’s ‘UNSUNG HYMNS OF CLAY’
It represents the ability of imagination to combine with a symbol in a manner that is at once emotionally magnetic and resonant of the smell of the soil. Manav has elevated this humble piece of clay to an artistic pedestal with remarkable finesse. Its simplicity is breathtaking, but its meaning is multi-dimensional.
Pavan K. Varma, AUTHOR, DIPLOMATCalm connectedness & quiet contemplation
He speaks in poetry and visual metaphor through installations and through paintings layered in watercolour, acrylic and oils, communicating in light and colour and lyrical form, all that he perceives in nature and how it relates to his soul.
Classic Feel (i)

GUPTA’S GREEN TRILOGY :
At a time when many artists turn to the west in desperate need for a brainwave, Gupta has universalised the diya – an inevitable fraction of Indian Culture – to draw attention to a contemporary issue.The installation is a metaphor where the earthen lamps signify earth.”
Adila Matra, MAIL TODAY (i)
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KALEIDOSCOPE OF CREATIVITY
It is the use of Indian philosophy and spirituality that centers rather than dominates the work. The approach is contemporary. Light, and thus hope, is what drives his work in a metaphorical and practical sense.
Diane de Beer, ARTS EDITOR, PRETORIA NEWS (i) |
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GUPTA’S RAINFOREST’S ART A HIT
Artist Manav Gupta is a visionary who uses his works of art to get his message across that the dire state of the earth is in the hands of mankind.
Doreen Premdev, SUNDAY TIMES, (i) SOUTH AFRICA
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Calibre enough to juxtapose it with Marcel Duchamp’s Fountain
This latest installation reflects the brilliant conceptualisation of the artist in his inverting the everyday humble utilitarian earthen lamp to encrypt it into the river of clay resulting in many considering it to be of calibre enough to juxtapose it with Marcel Duchamp’s Fountain.
Whats on!, Johannesburg (i)

ARCHITECTURE+DESIGN, June 2013

The third edition of the travelling trilogy, ‘Rainforests and the Circle of Life’, by renowned artist Manav Gupta was recently hosted by the High Commission of India, South Africa, at the National Museum, Pretoria. The site-specific installation ‘Unsung Hymns of Clay’ using earthen lamps explores environment consciousness. Architecture+Design brings you a glimpse of the concept and treatment, which is fresh, minimalistic, innovative and original…

The earthen lamp is woven in the cultural-religious fabric of India from time immemorial. Once home, only at the time of worship, they are used as a tool at the altar. Once the prayer ends, it is discarded again to be immersed in Ganges. Its life is strange as the way of the world and the circle of life, like the unsung hymns of clay.

By using the earthen lamp as a metaphor, the artist explores glaring issues of how perception and context interplay with each other. The installation touches upon issues of equality, respect, treatment towards objects, situation, people and the essence of life beyond manmade boundaries. The pollution of the rivers, the shrinking of water and its availability and such other climate change issues have been in the artist’s ethos of work. In this installation, with a minimalistic approach, the artist depicts his philosophy in understated tones that touch deeply and reverberate, lingering in the mind long after the visual engagement ends.

Delhi-based Manav Gupta is a gifted and well-established artist who has delved in the diversity of creativity through paintings, poetry, installations, etc.

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Manav Gupta - installation using Earthen Lamps | Unsung Hymns of clay

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Manav Gutpa’s “unsung hymns of clay”
by Pavan K Varma

Manav Gupta represents the artistic search for an authentic medium that is deeply rooted in the cultural ethos to which he is born. Exceptionally talented, especially in the startling, ingenious use of colour and light, Manav lives to push the horizons of expression without compromising the delicate aesthetic sensibility that is the hall mark of artistic fulfilment. I have known his work and his endeavours for many years now, and have been struck by his continuous effort to experiment with new forms of creativity, be it performance art in concert or his lyrical but powerful works on nature and forests.
His most recent work ‘Unsung hymns of Clay’ has made a particularly strong impact on me. It represents the ability of imagination to combine with a symbol in a manner that is at once emotionally magnetic and resonant of the smell of the soil. The earthen lamp is a part of every home in India. It is a utilitarian vessel at one level, but a powerful vehicle of reverence at another.
Its simplicity is breathtaking, but its meaning is multi-dimensional. It is easily accessible to all, and yet redolent with complexity. It is, perhaps, the one symbol that every India can identify with, and yet often, for this very reason almost taken for granted.
Manav has elevated this humble piece of clay to an artistic pedestal with remarkable finesse. For him it is the bridge between the individual and the divine. It is prayer incarnate, yearning personified. It represents the soil, mother earth, the compact with nature. Its very fragility is a pointer to both the environmental crisis we are facing and the need to do something about it.
Its versatility is a reminder that often the most beautiful things are part of our daily lives in a myriad ways and yet we are not conscious of the vibrations that imbue it. I am normally always a trifle sceptical about installation art. While some examples of this art are genuinely of calibre, many are about shock-impact and sterile gimmicry. Manav’s latest creation proves my scepticism wrong. By simply but imaginatively inverting the earthen diya he has created a work of art that cannot but deeply influence you. I was particularly struck by how he uses this clay vessel to show the plight of receding rivers, the shrinking domain of one our greatest natural assets, the unspeakable pollution and neglect of the Ganga, a river revered since the dawn of time by all Indians. One cannot stand before his installation and not be seized by an array of emotions, which taken together make a deep emotional impact, and sifted apart are about the earth, prayer, nature, rivers, human search and divine benediction.
I wish that more and more people see this installation and pause in the midst of their many preoccupations to absorb the beauty and symbolism of what he has created.

Classic Feel, News article, Manav Gupta_1

Mail Today article, Manav Gupta's river of clay installation, Earthen Lmaps, Installation

Pioneer, Manav Gupta's UNSUNG HYMNS OF CLAY ARTICLES

Manav Gupta’s recent mega installation uses earthen lamps as metaphors on environmental issues. The artist has four entries in this year’s Limca Book of Records. He spoke to D Kaushik

He is known for kingsized murals. The six-floor high, 5000 sq feet in façade and 10000 sq foot painted surface of a mural at the Airtel headquarters in Gurgaon, is among his more prominent works. Gupta employs a contemporary artistic language used to spread a message about environment conservation. He remarked, “I respect and love the earth and nature. And I have always tried to create awareness concerning environmental issues. I have worked in this field for many years. I grew up with nature and this reflects in my work.” Gupta’s latest exhibition is called Unsung Hymns of Clay. Currently showcasing in Pretoria, the capital of South Africa, it features a large installation called River of Clay, which uses earthen lamps as metaphors for Indian spirituality, conveying how we use the earth to our advantage. Manav explained, “While growing up, I saw earthen lamps lying in heaps. They always seemed non-descript. But the same lamps, when lit at the altar for prayer, took on different meaning. They are considered sacred, but we discard them after their purpose is served. I used them as a metaphor for Earth. We connect to her but damage and exploit her too.” He added, “It is believed when you use diyas for worship of the lord, you do not have to purify the mud bowls with holy Ganges water, because they already are pure. Oil is poured and the wicker lit is holy. But when prayer is complete the lamp is discarded. So the title, Unsung Hymns of Clay.”He also references the pollution done to the river Ganga. The installation with over hundreds of earthen lamps appears as a flowing water from the distance. The inverted lamps are arranged in neat, but flowing sequences. In its entirety it can fill the Tate Turbine Hall. “I have given a language to the lamps, which is minimalistic yet dramatic,” he added. Manav just returned from South Africa after the High Commission of India hosted the premiere and launch of the third edition of his travelling trilogy at the National Museum there, after two successive previous editions in recent years in US, Europe and the Middle East. It was extended by the Federal Museum, as an outreach during the BRICS Summit. “As the exhibition focusses on sustainable development, human responses to the environment and man’s role in climate change and other environmental hazards faced, the duration of display has been extended,” informed Gupta. He took over a year to complete the installation and plans to show it in India too.

Sunday Times, South Africa, News, Manav Gupta exhibition, UNSUNG HYMNS OF CLAY

Pretoria News, Art Editors's review of Manav Gupta exhibition UNSUNG HYMNS OF CLAY ARTICLES

Bibliography

2018

July 14, 2018 | The Pioneer Chahak Mittal | Dust To Dust …And All Shapes In Between.

July 19, 2018 | The Statesman Aruna Bhowmik | A wealth of meaning.

July 24 2018 | Amar Ujalaa | Topic | Manav Gupta

July 26, 2018 | Flash News APJ Abdul Kalam The Life Tree Illustrations By Manav Gupta.

July 29, 2018 | The Tribune India | Swati Rai Clayscapes – Manav Gupta’s Arth — Art for Earth carries forward his commitment towards innovation and sustainability.

July 30, 2018 | Twitter Web @IGNCA India’s most erudite & versatile contemporary artist, Manav Gupta redeploys quintessential Indian clay pottery at IGNCA, 11 Mansingh Road till Oct. 22

July 30. 2018 | Indian Express | Pallavi Chattopadyay From Sand To Dust.

August 30, 2018 | EventBrite | Team Earth | Arth Art Of Earth.

September 09, 2018 | Swarajya Magazine Sumati Mahrishi | Down To Earth.

September 16, 2018 | Hindustan Times | HT City | Making art of earth – Artist Manav Gupta’s innovative art installations highlight the importance of environment conservation and connecting with nature.

September 24, 2018 | E Times Arth Art For Earth By Manav Gupta.

Oct 17, 2018 Punjab Kesari TV | news channel YOUTUBE World’s first ever travelling Museum for Contemporary Public Art.

Oct 17, 2018 Navodaya Times news channel on YOUTUBE World’s first ever travelling Museum for Contemporary Public Art

02-Nov-18 | Navodaya times क्लाइमेट चेंज पर बेहद खूबसूरती से संदेश दे रही है मानव गुप्ता की ‘Arth- art for earth’ प्रदर्शनी

Nov 2nd-18 | PUNJAB KESARI NEWSPAPER बेहद खूबसूरती से संदेश क्लाइमेट चेंज पर दे रही है मानव गुप्ता की ‘Arth- art for earth’ प्रदर्शनी.

Nov 7th, 2018 | TEDx Talk Creating Art for Earth | Manav Gupta | TEDxYouth@TheShriramMillenniumNoida Creating Art for Earth | Manav Gupta | TEDxYouth@TheShriramMillenniumNoida.

Nov 19, 2018 | Lecture at LPU University YouTube Video Manav Gupta | Arth – art for earth | Lovely Professional University – 2018 TEDxYouthTheShriramMillenniumNoida Introducing our first speaker, Mr. Manav Gupta – An eminent artist, Founder & Creative Director ‘Arth – art for earth’.

September-October 2018 | IGNCA MAGAZINE Vihangama Mati Tere Roop Anek.

September 14, 2018 | facebook IGNCA Page & Manav Gupta Page arth dialogues at the waterfront.

October 22, 2018 | facebook IGNCA Page & Manav Gupta Page arth dialogues at the waterfront.

2018 | Sangam Paintings by Manav Gupta.

2018 01-Jan-20 | The Luxury Chronicle | Manav Gupta’s Global Art Project’s latest: ‘Rain’ for 2018 feb.

25, 2018 | New India Express | Medha Dutta Yadav The Sunday Magazine I want to make art available to all.

March 14, 2018 | Doordarshan National INTERVIEW You Tube Aaj Savera : An Interview With Manav Gupta : Eminent Artist And Thinker.

July 04, 2018 |National Herald | Navjeevan E Paper | India in Picture.

July 04, 2018 | Twitter Web co tweet, Minister Of Culture Government of India, Mahesh Sharma Minister Opening tomorrow: Arth-Art for Earth-The Excavated Museum of Clay by Manav Gupta July 5, 2018 7.00 pm IGNCA Lawns, 11 Mansingh Road, New Delhi.

June 05, 2018 | CNN News 18 Simantini Dey | Delhi-Based Artist, Manav Gupta, Weaves Poetry With Art on Environment.

June 05, 2018 | Twitter Web @MinOfCulureGoI On World Environment Day IGNCA presents excavations in hymns of clay, first of its kind in the world environmental art installations on sustainable development by eminent Indian contemporary artist Manav Gupta.

July 05, | 2018 Millennium Post Team MP | Redefining The Meaning Of Art With Arth.

July 5, 2018 | The Quint Art Exhibition Opens At IGNCA

July 5, 2019 | Official WebSite, Govt Of India Ministry Of Culture, Min of Culture Official Announcement, Details of Exhibition event and Period Arth-Art for Earth-The Excavated Museum of Clay by Manav Gupta.

July 05, 2018 | Press Information Bureau Govt Of India Ministry Of Culture Arth Art For Earth.

July 05, 2018 | IGNCA PROGRAMME NEWS Arth Art Of Earth The Excavated Museum Of Clay :Manav Gupta.

July 05, 2018 | The Daily Pioneer Team Viva IGNCA Showcases Arth Art For Earth.

July 05, 2018 | IGNCA INVITATION Arth Art Of Earth.

July 05, 2018 | IGNCA Arth Art Of Earth The Excavated Museum Of Clay.

July 05, 2018 | Daily Hunt Redefining The Meaning Of Art With Arth.

July 05, 2018 | Business Standard Arth Art Of Earth.

July 06, 2018 | Sawdust | Sasikala Raje | Art For Earth.

July 06, 2018 | Prokerala.com Time Machine Manav Gupta.

July 07, 2018 | Freshers Live Vamsi Atherya Arth at IGNCA New Delhi.

July 13, 2018 | India Heritage Desk | Exhibition: Arth Art Of Earth Manav Gupta.

July 14, 2018 | Dainik Bhaskar Mitti ki khushbu.

July 14, 2018 | Jagaran chillam se bahi ganga, diyon se barkha.

July 14, 2018 | Opinion Express Chahak Mittal Giving A New Meaning To Pottery

2017

September 13, 2017 | Women Economic Forum New Delhi, India The ARTH Project Jan-17 Manav Gupta- The travelling museum at DLF mall of India.

April 17, 2017 | Sankalp Pravah, Prime Minister’s initiative inaugural ceremony by min of culture.

Jan 19, 2017 | Dlf invite Dlf invite.

March 4th 2017 | He is the next big thing in art, an Outlook magazine article says. Times of India calls him one of India’s most erudite and versatile contemporary artists.

His works have been featured in the Bible of art, Blouin Art Info. With four entries in Limca Book of Records, he is listed by Financial Times as one of the ten contemporary artists from India whose works will fetch good returns. This, even as BBC hails his latest project.

Feb 21, 2017 | The Daily Pioneer | Priyanka Joshi | The little clay pot Artist Manav Gupta uses the most basic terracotta items in our everyday inventory and mounts an installation at a mall to convey his message of ecological sustainability.

Mar 2, 2017 Times of India | Niharika Lal | Clay installation at Noida mall gets an extended display.

Dec 05, 2017 Twitter Amitabh Kant | Greatly enjoyed this wonderful exhibition “Excavations in hymns of clay” by artist Manav Gupta. Extremely creative!

Jan 25, 2017 | Times Of India | E Times | Clay lamps and kulhads turn Noida mall into an art museum.

28 Jan, 2017 | Times of India | Uma Nair | The Excavated Museum’ – Manav Gupta is truly a unique genius – the thinker and the visionary is hailed by critics as one of the most erudite and versatile contemporary artists today.

Jan 29, 2017 | Millenium Post | Excavated Museum at the Mall Millennium Post explores why this solo public art project by any artist is a solo biennale in itself. A list of many firsts.

Feb 17, 2017 Amar Ujala | Manav Gupta Excavated Museum At Dlf Mall Noida.

Feb 14, 2017 | Life & More Celebrated artist Manav Gupta has set up a one-of-its kind travelling museum.

17th feb 2017 नदियों की संस्कृतियों को जोड़ने में लगा ये आर्टिस्ट, चाक मिट्टी का देखिए कमाल भारत के टॉप टेन आर्टिस्ट में शुमार मानव गुप्ता ने पॉटरी आर्ट के जरिए संस्कृतियों को जोड़ने का बेहतरीन प्रयोग किया है। उन्होंने भारतीय संस्कृति की वाहक गंगा को चाक मिट्टी की कला के जरिए दुनिया की दूसरी नदियों से जोड़ने का रचनात्मक बीड़ा उठाया है, जिसकी तारीफ चारों ओर हो रही है।

28th Feb 2017 | मिट्टी के कुल्हड़ और चिलम से नोएडा में बही ‘गंगा’ Pottery Art Presentation By Manav Gupta Catches Eyeballs In Noida DLF Mall.

2015 – 2016

May June 2016 | India Perspectives | MEA MAGAZINE, GOI Taking art beyond boundaries | Maverick Genius.

June 30, 2016 The Hindu “Khorshed Deboo , ”Breaking The Mould” – artist Manav Gupta articulates how objects of clay can be adapted to address environmental urgencies.

June 30, 2017 | INVITATION | PRINCE OF WALES MUSEUM | Museum Society of Bombay and Prince of Wales Museum invitation lecture, ‘Excavations in Hymns of Clay’ takes place today at the CSMVS auditorium, Fort, at 6 p.m.

July 06, 2016 | Indian Diplomacy Twitter Web India | MEA | Ambassador Of India’s Soft Power.

July 07, 2016 | The Times 24 | KS Rao & Team | Ambassador Of India’s Soft Policy Manav Gupta has showcased Indian Pottery.

August 10th, 2016 | Hi Blitz | Volume 14 | Issue 9 | Cover Feature | Manav Gupta- A President’s Artist | On the Waterfront.

Minneapolis College of Art and Design, President’s Lecture Series : Manav Gupta , November 12, 2015

BLOUIN ARTINFO, Manav Gupta at his musing best , April 14, 2015

Hindustan Times, Eco-friendly: Art goes from earth to earth, April 10, 2015

Matters of Art, Exploring the Holy Ganges in Clay, March 15, 2015

The Pioneer, Message in Clay, December 23rd, 2015

The Indian Panorama, From Ganga to Mississippi , January, 2016

August 4th, 2016 Architecture Update Volume10 | Issue 7 | Allegoric Innovations | Manav Gupta | Installation Art – Manav Gupta has reinvented the language of clay with true originaility of thought.

October 23, 2016 | NAWRAS Mohona Banerjee “Enigmatic and thoughtful with a wry sense of humour, Manav Gupta is a prolific artist who is set on deconstructing art perception. His enthusiasm and refined conception of art makes it evident why he is one of the leading contemporary authorities in the art-world.

Public Art Review, Manav Gupta repurposes local pottery, Issue 53 : Leading the Way | Fall/Winter, 2015.

Forecast Public Art, Weaving spirituality and environmentalism in public art, November 11th, 2015.

Outlook, Excavations in hymns of clay, June 1st, 2015.

Millennium Post, Exquisitely etched in clay, April 21st, 2015.

The Statesman, River of Clay, April 2, 2015.

Deccan Herald, Magnificent Public Art Installation, April 2015

2013 – 2014

BBC, Ganga using Diyas and Chillams, December 15, 2014

Feb 12, 2014 Artville Blog Artist Of The Day – Manav Gupta

March 14, 2014 The Kenyon Thrill | Claire Bermann Public Art For NCA s

April 16, 2014 The Weather Network Cheryl Santa Maria | Five Examples of Nature Inspired Street Art

2014 June Architecture+Design Volume 31 | Issue 6 | Tree of Life

Exotica, Manav Gupta’s unsung hymns of clay, August 2013

Architecture+Design Magazine, Art feature, June 2013

Essay by Pavan K. Varma, Manav Gupta’s “unsung hymns of clay“, April 13, 2013

Mail Today, Gupta’s Green Trilogy, Friday April 26, 2013

The Pioneer, All for Earth, April 15, 2013

Sunday Times, Gupta’s “rainforest art” a Hit, February 24, 2013

IOL | Diane de Beer, Tonight Art | Kaleidoscope of Creativity | February 28, 2013

Artslink, Rainforests and the Circle of Life, March 15, 2013

Biz community.com, Rainforests and the Circle of Life exhibition in Pretoria, February 28, 2013

2013 June Architecture+Design Volume 30 | Issue 6 | Unsung Hymns of Clay

July 01, 2013 | South African Art Times Page 19| Issue July 2013 9th July – 8th Aug 2013 at Lovell Gallery
International environmental artist Manav Gupta Grahamstown Festival Lovell Gallery Invite, Catalogue

Aug-13 | Exotica Magazine | Songs of Clay

Sep 22nd 2013 | Pocketnews alert Unsung Hymns Of Clay

September 28th 2013 Articulate UK PRATHAM GALA catalogue Jugalbandi in Colour

November 29, 2014 | Times of India, Exploring Identities in Clay | One of India’s most erudite and versatile contemporary artists, Manav Gupta has reinvented the language of clay by infusing true originality of thought and treatment in the humble produce of the potters wheel

Dec 24, 2014 | The Pioneer | Navneet Mendiratta | Message In Clay

Classic Feel, Quest for life, August 2013
Whats on!, Leading international environmental artist, speaks out. July 2013

Classic feel, Environmental Art – Unsung Hymns of clay June 20, 2013

SABC News, Feature on Brics : Manav Gupta’s Clay River. (FEATURED YOUTUBE VIDEO)

Expresso, Renowned artist Manav Gupta’s acclaimed exhibition

Get it Pretoria, Art focuses on Nature, March 14, 2013

Media Update, Rainforests and the circle of life exhibition extended to the end of March, March 15, 2013

Record, Spectacular India Culture hits the stage, 8 March, 2013

The Times, Small wonders, February 22, 2013

Curtain Call, Rainforests and the Circle of Life, February 19, 2013

June 20, 2013 | Sulger Buel Lovell Environmental art – Unsung hymns of clay

June 22, 2013 | High Commission Of India Pretoria SA ,The Lovell Gallery SA Artist Bio Rainforests And The Circle Of Life

Jun-2013 | High Commission Of India Pretoria SA, The Lovell Gallery SA | Gallery Invite July issue, posted on Facebook.

Oct 2nd, 2013 | Classic Feel Magazine. South Africa A quest for Light. The work of leading Indian artist Manav Gupta

2011 – 2012

Limca Books of Records- National Record-Manav Gupta Tree of Life – Spread of 5 ft and Towering over 60ft 5000 sq ft in view and over 10000 sq ft of total painted surface – 3500 Employees

2010

July 13, 2010 | Delhi Times | Article by Suruchi Sharma | The big picture, 5000 square feet,1000 people, 400 cans of paint-what’s artist Manav Gupta been upto?

September 8, 2010 | The Des Moines Register | Article by Michael Morain | Indian artist brings his ‘trilogy’ here,Internationally acclaimed Manav Gupta’s show at D.M.Social club to include collaborative art event.

13 August, 2010 | People Magazine | Caught In The Act | ‘Sunil Bharti Mittal inaugurated a mega mural at the Airtel Centre, painted by artist Manav Gupta

2009

2007 – 2008

July 17 2007 | TIMES OF OMAN | Manav Gupta with President Dr A.P.J Abdul Kalam

August 7 2007 | TIMES OF OMAN | Manav Gupta joins ‘Unity-A Relief Effort’ initiative

August 7 2007 | TIMES OF OMAN | ‘Generation Next’ enthrals | Manav Gupta painting

August 8 2007 | OMAN DAILY | OSFA to host works of leading Indian artist,Oman Society for Fine Arts is hosting an exhibition by the Internationally acclaimed Indian artist Manav Gupta

August 12 2007 | TIMES OF OMAN | Bank Muscat presents The Premiere of an exhibition of paintings by manav gupta

August 12 2007 | TIMES LEISURE | Article by Palazhi Ashok Kumar | His art is his heartbeat | Manav’s paintings will not only touch your hearts but also simulate your feelings. Musical Brush,With a stroke of his brush, Manav Gupta paints a picture with the rythm from live music to enthrall the audience duing the fund raising events.

12th-23rd August 2007 | Bank Muscat Press Release

August 13 2007 | OMAN DAILY | Article by Hasan Kamoonpuri | Catch young Indian artist live in action on 17th and 23rd,12 day Manav Gupta exhibition opens at OSFA

August 14 2007 | OMAN DAILY | Trying to merge art with poetry

August 15 2007 | TIMES OF OMAN | Manav Gupta portrays freedom on canvas

August 15 2007 | TIMES OF OMAN | Wishing INDIA a great future as it celebrates its INDEPENDENCE DAY, Painting by Manav Gupta

August 15 2007 | TIMES OF OMAN | A toast to India’s unity and integrity, Painting by Manav Gupta based on a poem by former Indian President Dr. A.P.J Abdul Kalam

August 16 2007 | OMAN DAILY | Manav Gupta’s live painting show

August 2007 | The Week | Performance Painter

August 2007 | TIMES OF OMAN | Generation Next featuring Manav Gupta

August 20 2007 | TIMES OF OMAN | Manav’s latest painting attracts heavy bids

August 18 2007 | TIMES OF OMAN | Renowned painter and poet Manav Gupta with Anil Wadhwa, Indian ambassador to the Sultanate.

August 19 2007 | TIMES LEISURE | Taking a centrestage featuring Manav Gupta

August 22 2007 | TIMES OF OMAN | Anup Jalota Live featuring Manav Gupta

August 22 2007 | MIRROR | Brush that listens

2006

Sanatan Kalakriti Puraskar 2006

Nov 01, 2006 | Sanatan Sangeet Sanskriti’s Samman Samaroh, 2006

November 10th 2006 | Christies – Lot48_bid | Umbilical Cords of Clay, Air and Water Watercolour on Paper 60 x 48 inches

October 2006 | Indian Designs & Interiors | The Ambient Canvas of Space | Pg 74-78

January 2006 | Samvada | There’s more to Manav than Art and Poetry – Hindustan Times

2005

2003 – 2004

2002

2001

March 1st 2001 | Delhi Times | The Countdown has begun

March 9, 2001 | The Statesman | Art for Gujarat

2000

1999

1997

1997 Inside Outside Manav Gupta and his expressions of freedom.

1997 Impressions Ajanta Mallick A poet and a painter, Manav Gupta’s exhibition of water colours and sculptures at the Taj Bengal.

April 15, 1997 | Femina | Touch Wood: A wood from the designer.

September 1997 The Economic Times

Dec 15, 1997 Femina Emerging Forms Flowing Colours.

1996

FEATURED READING for the Month of December, 2021 – South Africa, Exhibition, 2013

essays, news, reviews

Poster at National Museum Pretoria- Manav Gupta exhibition

Live performance of the artist’s pioneering concept of Jugalbandi at the Pratham gala London on September 28, 2013

Seminal canvas on 100 years of Indian Cinema commissioned by Pratham, London

LIMCA Book of records, 4 records holder as of 10th April, 2013

Travelling Trilogy III Premiere by National Museum of Cultural History, Pretoria, South Africa
Travelling Trilogy III, other venues | Now Showing : Unsung hymns of clay at Lovell Gallery, Capetown

Architecture + Design Magazine, Edition : June 2013