Identity is important for an artist: G. Reghu

Renowned sculptor G. Reghu values artist identity, reflects Gandhian philosophy in sculptures, emphasizes on artistic freedom over fame.

Identity is an important aspect for an artist. If art is created, people should know whom it belongs to, even without the name. That’s how an artist values his work, said G. Reghu, the celebrated sculptor from Kerala.

His art minitaures sliding in the backdrop, he sat, “a reluctant participant in public”, as Ina Puri, put it. In conversation with Ms. Puri, an art curator, at The Hindu Lit for Life Dialogue 2025, at Christ (deemed to be University) here, Mr. Reghu, said about his artistic process: “It starts from the basic drawing of the design, selection and the kind of material used. That’s when we can create something that will stay.”

Hailing from Kilimanoor, a small town in Kerala, Mr. Reghu’s art has transcended international borders. With traces of Gandhian philosophy, he said Elizabeth and Laurie Baker influenced him early in his career. “That’s when I decided to shun expensive materials like marble and bronze, and moved to the humble terracota,” he said.

Nobody in Mr. Reghu’s family is an artist, except for him. “Kilimanoor is the birthplace of the painter Raja Ravi Varma. The town has always been associated with art,” he noted.

Even though Mr. Reghu’s art has traces of people from Kerala, his sculptures have travelled places in India. “In 1987, I went to the Bharat Bhavan where I worked for the next 15 years. My first gallery was in Jehangir, in Mumbai. Artist Swaminathan greatly impacted me in my initial years. He inspired me to reflect my roots in my work,” he said.

His sculptures, an exploration of the human form in various shapes and muted organic colours, reflect the Gandhian philosophy he was exposed to in his initial years. As Ms. Puri says, his art has Kerala’s touch to it. “I portray everything I see everyday. These mundane things are what makes it closer to reality. The simpler joys of life,” he replied.

He continued: “Characters always change. They should. I try to diversify them as much as possible. Art should not be confined to one perspective. It should be free. It should reflect the artist’s thinking, and imagination, and it should not bog down to the pressures of external forces”.