Shiv Singh, the Blackrobed Painter and Sculptor

South Asia Post Issue 44 Vol II, July 31, 2007

Painter and designer, but primarily a sculptor, SHIV SINGH was born in Hoshiarpur in 1938. From 1958 to 1963, he studied in Punjab College of Arts. From 1963 to 1968, he taught art at the Sainik School, Kapurthala. In 1967 he was invited to participate in the Second National Sculptor’ camp, Delhi. In 1968, he German Government offered him a scholarship in advanced studies and research in art for 3 years in Germany. Since then he has exhibited several times in Europe.
From 1972 to 1982 he was a member of the Lalit Kala Academy at New Delhi and he has been a founder member of the Punjab Lalit Kala Academy at New Delhi and he has been a founder member of the Punjab Lalit Kala Academy, Chandigarh. He also worked very closely with Dr. M.S. Randhawa to build the Punjab Arts Council.

He was a member to the advisory committee of All India Radio Station, Jalandhar, from 1982 to 1984. Prior to that, in 1980 he was a member of the jury of judging works of art for the National Exhibition, Doordarshan (Delhi), Doordarshan (Jalandhar), Siti Cable Chandigarh and Alpha/Zee TV have televised seven documentary films on him and his works. He has broadcasted several talks on art from All India Radio Jalandhar and Chandigarh.

In 1980 he participated in the International Sculptors’ Symposium held at Punjab University Patiala and in the same year he attended the National Award Winning Artists’ camp at Madras. In 1982, he took part at the Techno Art Camp at the Technological Museum, Bangalore. Then he participated in the Indo-Japanese Sculptors’ camp organized at Petro-Chemicals Baroda in 1989. He also displayed his works in an exhibition called images of Indian Contemporary Art at Neustadt. Germany. In the same year he participated in an exhibition held during the Festival of India in USSR and Germany in 1991. His works were also included in the exhibition of Danse del’Universe during the Festival of France in India in 1989. Then he participated in the Third, Fourth and Fifth Triennial (World Art Exhibition) in India, Germany, Denmark, Sweden, Scotland and England. His works were also shown in the Biennial in Dhaka, Bangladesh, 2003. In January 2004 he was invited for a sculptors’ camp at Bhubaneshwar.
This was followed by an International Sculptors’ Camp which took place at the Govt. College of Arts, Chandigarh, and then another National Sculptors’ Camp at the NZCC, Kalagaram, Chandigarh and also one at the Government College, Sector 11, Chandigarh organized by Chandigarh Lalit Kala Academy in 2006. He retired as Professor of Arts in 1996, from Government Home Science College, Chandigarh. He had been the Chairman of the Chandigarh Lalit Kala Academy from 1999 till 2005. Presently he has been appointed as President of Punjab Lalit Kala Academy. Recently he had his solo exhibition of paintings on The Art of Tantra, sponsored by the Government Museum and Art Gallery, Chandigarh and later arranged by the Indian Embassy in Berlin from 13th October till 3rd November 2005.

Awards and Honours
Received the National Award in Sculptor in 1979 and the President of India’s Silver Plaque for the best exhibit of the year 1982 at the All India Exhibition at New Delhi. Numerous All India and State Level Awards followed. He was then honored by the Punjab Arts Council, as a leading artist in 1979. In 1988 he was honored by the Governor Punjab for his contribution in the field of art; and a Silver Plaque was presented to him at the Surajkund Craft Mela for excellence of his metal objects in 1991 by the Governor of Haryana. Then he was also honored by the Parkash Kala Society, Mohali, in 1991, as well as by Art India Organization, Ludhiana.