Gurpreet Singh Dhuri

Last updated

Gurpreet Singh Dhuri
Gurpreet Dhuri in, Bradworthy, United Kingdom.jpg
Gurpreet Dhuri in, Bradworthy, United Kingdom
Born
Gurpreet Singh

(1983-12-26) 26 December 1983 (age 40)
Ghanaur Khurd, Punjab, India
NationalityIndian
Alma mater Government College of Arts, Chandigarh (passed out in 2009)
Occupations
Years active2003–present
Known for Sculpture, portraiture and special make-up effects
Website gurpreetdhuri.com

Gurpreet Singh Dhuri (born 26 December 1983), or simply Dhuri, is an Indian sculptor and special make-up effects and installation artist. He is known for his clay modeling and portraiture in medium of sculpture and prosthetic makeup in Indian films. He is an alumnus of the Government College of Arts, Chandigarh where he completed a masters of fine art with a specialisation in sculpture.

Contents

Early life and background

Born in a working-class family in Ghanaur Khurd in Punjab, India on 26 December 1983, to mother Joginder Kaur and father Labh Singh, he is the youngest among his four siblings. His father tried to continue the traditional shoemaking, the family’s ancestral occupation, in the small village of Ghanaur for many years. However, with the advent of new technology and trends in the shoe industry, the family business faced constant economic pressures. He managed to delay his resignation until Gurpreet Dhuri came of age. Eventually, his father gave up the trade and began working as a laborer in the sugar mill at Dhuri, carrying his tiffin box and commuting by bicycle.

This shift ensured the continuity of his children’s education, as the steady salary from the sugar mill began to provide financial stability. Despite the income, it wasn’t enough to grant Gurpreet a carefree childhood, and he had to take on work to help his family. His passion for colors and painting led him to work as an assistant to Rink Painter. Here, he had his first encounter with paints. Dhuri learned the techniques of working with poster and enamel paints on cloth, walls, and metal sheets.

“By the time I passed matriculation, I had already realized that I had a special attraction to art, although I wasn’t fully aware of its scope as a profession. ... One day, my elder brother Gurmeet came to me with a newspaper clipping, suggesting it might interest me. Not fully understanding it, I took it to my primary teacher, who explained that it was an advertisement for admission to an art college. I immediately knew it was my destiny,” Gurpreet has stated.

After completing his 10+2 in 2000, he sought to find work and continued working with Rinku Painter in Dhuri, painting banners for advertisements and political campaigns during election seasons, a job that remained a part of his life for some time.

Education

He joined graduation in a nearby college in the year 2001, which he left in the year 2002 when he cleared the entrance test for the Government College of Art, Chandigarh in July 2003. [1] The art college was a new world to him but he could not afford to submerse himself into it fully due to the economic constraints. He took a bus every Friday to travel 128km to his home town Dhuri to utilize the weekend by painting banners for an earning. He started getting some early sculpting commercial work in the third year of college itself, “I met many kind people, who were always ready to help, promote and encourage me. Most notably Mr. Rahi Mohinder Singh, painter and Sant Singh Dhuri, Rinku Painter Dhuri & Jagdeep Jolly". [2] Dhuri further joined the MFA programme after graduating in the year 2006 and completed his masters in 2009.

Career

After completing his MFA, Dhuri set out to explore the subfields of sculpture and art instead of looking for a job. [3] He started experimenting with new materials like silicone and proceeded towards good results which invited public attention. [4] [5]

Sculpture

In 2004 he started working as a freelance sculptor for local clients and galleries, and later started getting invitations for sculpture workshops. In 2009 North Zone Cultural Centre Dimapur, Nagaland invited him to a stone carving workshop.

Special make-up effects

After completing the master's of visual art, He went to Gujarat to assist senior artists on a museum project in Ahmedabad. Around the same time, he entered the film industry, contributing prosthetic effects in Anurag Kashyap’s Gangs of Wasseypur (2012) with the same team. Their early work included creating realistic silicone props like a severed head and a pregnancy belly for Richa Chadha’s character. This marked the beginning of his journey in character design, portraiture, and special make-up effects. [6] [7]

Filmography

Awards and honors

Style themes and influences

Dhuri and his fellow artists started a prosthetic makeup and sculpture studio in Chandigarh. He draws significant inspiration from Stan Winston, a legendary figure in special effects known for his work on films like Jurassic Park and Edward Scissorhands . Winston’s groundbreaking ability to create lifelike creatures and characters through prosthetics and special effects deeply influenced Dhuri. [8] [4] [5] He is also inspired by painter R. M. Singh. [15]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ratan Parimoo</span>

Ratan Parimoo is an Indian art historian from Kashmir, who has worked as an art educator, pedagogue, artist and former director of the Lalbhai Dalpatbhai Museum, Ahmedabad. Ratan Parimoo was one of the founder members of Baroda Group.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bhagwant Mann</span> 17th and current Chief Minister of Punjab

Bhagwant Singh Mann, better known by his stage name "Jugnu", is an Indian politician, social worker, former comedian, singer and actor who is currently serving as the 17th Chief minister of Punjab since 2022. He represents the Dhuri Assembly constituency in the Punjab Legislative Assembly since 2022 and is also serving as the state convener of Aam Aadmi Party, Punjab since 2019. Previously, he was a member of the Lok Sabha from Sangrur Lok Sabha constituency from 2014 to 2022.

Sankho Chaudhuri was an Indian sculptor, and a noted figure in the art scene of India. (Although named Naranarain in due family tradition, he was more widely known by his pet name Sankho). Ram Kinker Baij was his teacher. He began close to cubism and then was influenced by István Beöthy, whom he had met in Paris. His themes have included the female figure and wildlife. He has worked in a wide range of media and produced large-scale reliefs and mobiles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bikash Bhattacharjee</span> Indian artist (1940–2006)

Bikash Bhattacharjee was an Indian painter from Kolkata in West Bengal. Through his paintings, he depicted the life of the average middle-class Bengali – their aspirations, superstitions, hypocrisy and corruption, and even the violence that is endemic to Kolkata. He worked in oils, acrylics, water-colours, conté and collage. In 2003, he was awarded the highest award of Lalit Kala Akademi, India's National Academy of Arts, the Lalit Kala Akademi Fellowship.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">S. G. Thakur Singh</span> Indian artist (1899–1976)

S. G. Thakur Singh (1899–1976) was an Indian artist who painted in oils, pastels and water colour. He worked in the Indian film industries located in Bombay and Calcutta. He was acquainted with members of the Bengal renaissance movement of art, such as Nand Lal Bose and the Tagore brothers. Although he had been familiar with traditional Sikh methods of art created by his predecessors, he preferred modern methods and was not influenced by the indigenous methods. He was permanently patronized and paid a commission by many Indian royal houses, such as Kota, Udaipur, Bhopal, Kashmir, Dongarpur, Travancore, Nawan Nagar, Bikaner, Patiala, Kapurthala, and several other Indian princely states. Ordhendra Coomar Gangoly was his appreciative critic.

Bhabesh Chandra Sanyal commonly known as B. C. Sanyal, the doyen of modernism in Indian art, was an Indian painter and sculptor and an art teacher to three generations of artists. During his lifetime he not just saw the partition of the Indian subcontinent three times, 1905, 1947 and 1971, but also witnessed 20th century Indian art in all its phases. His notable paintings include The flying scarecrow, Cow herd, Despair and Way to peace, which depicts Mahatma Gandhi with a Hindu and a Muslim child.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Biman Bihari Das</span> Indian sculptor (born 1943)

Biman Bihari Das is an Indian sculptor and former Principal of the Government College of Art & Craft, Kolkata. He was honoured by the Government of India, in 2014, by bestowing on him the Padma Shri, the fourth highest civilian award, for his services to the field of Fine Arts.

Shiv Singh was an Indian-Punjabi artist, known mainly for his work as a sculptor.

Dhanraj Bhagat (1917–1988) was an Indian sculptor, considered by many as one of the major sculptors of the Indian subcontinent. He was born in 1917 in Lahore, in the erstwhile British India and secured a diploma in sculpture from the National College of Arts, Lahore. His career started as a member of the faculty at the College of Art, Delhi in 1947 where he rose to the position of the head of the Sculpture Department by the time of his retirement in 1977.


Dalvir Singh Khangura, known as "Goldy", was born on 24 September 1982 in a Jat Sikh family in Dhuri, District Sangrur, Punjab India. He has done his schooling from S.V.M., Dhuri. He later joined S.D. College, Chandigarh and did his Graduation and PGDCA. is former MLA from Dhuri, Sangrur District, Punjab. He got elected for the seat in the 2017 Punjab Legislative Assembly election. He was a politician in Indian National Congress but joined Aam Aadmi Party in May 2024 in the presence of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gurpreet Singh (artist)</span> Indian painter (born 1976)

Gurpreet Singh is a modern Indian painter of local acclaim, he also has a hand in photography. He had received few awards and held painting exhibitions in Punjab.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">D. S. Kapoor</span>

D. S. Kapoor is an Indian art historian and educator. He completed a bachelor of arts degree at Government College of Arts, Chandigarh (GCA) and began a career as a commercial artist. Later, he moved to art education, teaching at St. John's School. In 1990, he became a faculty member of the GCA, and served as the acting principal of the college from 2009 to 2012. After his retirement, he was appointed the dean of the Pandit Lakhmi Chand State University of Performing and Visual Arts, and then as an Officer on Special Duty at the National Institute of Design, Kurukshetra.

Sobha Brahma was an Indian painter and sculptor. He lived and worked in Guwahati. He graduated from the Kalabhavana Visva-Bharati University Shantiniketan West-Bengal. Brahma developed a unique individual style that mixed traditional folk and modern Indian art.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Diwan Manna</span> Photographer from India

Diwan Manna is an Indian conceptual artist and photographer. He completed his study in graphic art and printmaking from the Government College of Art, Chandigarh in 1982. He exhibited in India, United Kingdom, Germany, France, Poland, and Italy. From 2014 to 2015 he served as the director of Triennale India, organised by Lalit Kala Akademi, National Academy of Art, Ministry of Culture, Govt of India. He served as the chairman of Chandigarh Lalit Kala Akademi, State Academy of Art, Department of Culture, Chandigarh Administration. Currently, he is serving as the president of Punjab Lalit Kala Akademi, State Academy of Art, Ministry of Culture, Government of Punjab, India.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">R. M. Singh</span> Indian painter, illustrator, and teacher

Rahi Mohinder Singh better known as RM Singh, is a Punjabi-speaking Indian painter, illustrator, and teacher. He studied under artist Sobha Singh. He has painted many men and women of importance and his portraits have been exhibited the Parliament of India and the President House of India.

The Government College of Arts, Chandigarh is an art institute in Chandigarh, India. Established in 1951 by SL Prashar, it offers professional education in art to students from over 68 years. This institute is one among the first three art institutions of India. It has a history of almost 132 years, initially, it was initially established as Mayo School of Industrial art in 1875 for purpose to provide industrial drawing as the world was on industrial revolution. John Lockwood Kipling was appointed as the first principal of the institution, which is now active as National College of Arts in Lahore. It came up on 16 August 1951 as splinter Mayo School of Arts, Lahore in Pakistan after Partition of India. In 1951 it was first established as Government School of Art and craft at Shimla, the capital of Punjab and subsequently Govt. College of art and craft, Chandigarh. On re-organization of Punjab, the control came under Chandigarh Administration. This institution is situated in Sector 10 C, adjoining the Government Museum and Art Gallery, Chandigarh.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Randeep Maddoke</span> Indian photographer and documentary maker (born 1977)

Randeep Maddoke is a Punjab-based concept photographer and documentary filmmaker, born and raised in the village Maddoke, Moga (Punjab). Randeep, an activist turned photographer, is known for his focus on the pains of the marginalised sections of society which are constantly subject to a systematic social exclusion.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kulpreet Singh</span> Indian contemporary artist

Kulpreet Singh, is a Punjab-based visual artist specializing in drawing, painting, installation, and conceptual art. Kulpreet attended the Punjabi University, did his graduation and masters in fine arts.

The Punjab Lalit Kala Akademi is Punjab's state academy of fine arts. It's an autonomous cultural organisation established and funded by the Government of Punjab to preserve and publicize the fine art and culture outside the state.

S. Nandagopal was an Indian sculptor and painter, known for his sculptures in metal. He was one of the last members of the Madras Art Movement which pioneered modernism in art in south India and the son of K. C. S. Paniker, the founder of the movement as well as the Cholamandal Artists' Village. A two-time recipient of the Lalit Kala Akademi Award, Nandagopal was awarded the Jindal Stainless Steel Award for Sculpture in 2002.

References

  1. ↑ "People in the city". Hindustantimes.com. 18 February 2014. Retrieved 20 March 2019.
  2. ↑ "Master of detail ~ Rahi Mohinder Singh - the artist". Sikhnet.com. 13 June 2013. Retrieved 20 March 2019.
  3. ↑ "Sculptor Gurpreet Dhuri from Chandigarh College of Arts | City Buzz". Blog. 7 June 2023. Retrieved 28 September 2024.
  4. 1 2 "Brain behind India's realistic silicon images". Design.careers360.com. 24 December 2013. Retrieved 20 March 2019.
  5. 1 2 "Prosthetic artist Gurpreet Dhuri keeps experimenting to stay relevant". hi INDiA. 21 April 2023. Retrieved 28 September 2024.
  6. ↑ "Sangrur sculptor Gurpreet Dhuri's touch of class". The Tribune. 30 April 2023.
  7. ↑ "Prosthetic artist Gurpreet Dhuri keeps experimenting to stay relevant - Glamsham". 21 April 2023. Retrieved 28 September 2024.
  8. 1 2 3 4 IANS (21 April 2023). "Prosthetic artist Gurpreet Dhuri keeps experimenting to stay relevant". KalingaTV. Retrieved 28 September 2024.
  9. ↑ "When stones speak". The Tribune. 23 August 2024.
  10. ↑ "Gurpreet Dhuri Opens Up Making Hyper Realistic Sculptures & Prosthetics In Films: "The Audience Is Extremely Demanding". 21 April 2023.
  11. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Sangrur sculptor Gurpreet Dhuri's touch of class". The Tribune. Chnadigarh. 30 April 2023.
  12. ↑ "High Fun". We are moving stories. 7 November 2023. Retrieved 28 September 2024.
  13. ↑ "Scholarships - Chandigarh Lalit Kala Akademy". Lalitkalachandigarh.com. Retrieved 20 March 2019.
  14. ↑ "Gurpreet Singh - Chandigarh Lalit Kala Akademy". Lalitkalachandigarh.com. Retrieved 20 March 2019.
  15. ↑ "People in the city". 18 February 2014.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.