Kathmandu:

Sculptor Kalu Kumale has become synonymous with ‘Krodh Murtikar’ (sculptor of wrathful God) by now.

He has handcrafted over 600 varieties of different wrathful statues so far, none resembling the other at all. He fashions ferocious yet graceful and often effeminate attitudes with perfection and sophistication. But Kalu as a person emanates calmness, simplicity and honesty despite. He is reticent and prefers keeping away from the raucous world. “It perhaps might be his reticent temperament that he can discern distinct facial and physical features of fury,” says his son Rakesh Awale.

At an age when most people retire, Kalu, 73 reaches the factory at Hattiban by noon and keeps at his work till late in the evening. In fact, he need not work in factory any more, as his two sons, Rakesh and Rajesh, have been taking care of it. However, Kalu designs and instructs workers in the factory and also supervises different processes such as moulding, covering, drying, casting, painting and the finishing touch.

Kalu assisted Sangh Ratna Shakya for over 26 years to restore metal images brought from Tibet (during the Chinese cultural revolution), which was enough to earn his livelihood. “I was working as a labourer,” he says recalling those days. Besides, being a Kuma (clay worker), he was to render service to upper class people of his community. Going to school was a far-fetched dream. “I had no money to pay for admission which would cost Rs 10 in total,” he reminiscences.

Modelling clay into

various shapes was all he could do. He was lucky enough to find a job that suited his expertise.

Kalu started moulding clay into shape since his childhood but his parents never fostered his vocation as it was beyond their means. He could model clay into any shape or image exactly as he was instructed to or by simply looking at a specimen given to him.

In 1955, he suffered from a serious illness that kept him housebound for six months, which was the decisive moment in his life. He eased his boredom by modelling clay images, which in fact honed his skill further. And he was convinced on his own talent of sculpturing. Subsequently, he shifted to wax modelling since people liked his artwork. Thus, his hobby turned into profession. “I sold my first work for four rupees,” he still remembers.

Today he shapes dreams out of shapeless metals.

A quiet and calm person, and it was no wonder that by his devotion and dedication he became a renowned artist in no time at all. And not only in the country but also all across the globe.

His creations of Mahasambhara Hangriva and Heruka have been placed at the Victoria and Albert Museum, London. Numerous other creations have been placed at various monasteries and shrines in Nepal, Tibet, Thailand, Malaysia as well as the US.

With growing demand for his work, Kalu has been running a full-fledged industry, Kalu Arts and Handicrafts at Thapahiti, Okubahal in Lalitpur. His masterwork sells for about Rs 20,000,000 now.

Kalu’s artwork include 76 cm high statue of Vajrayogini to 15 feet Maitry Manjushree. His first important work was 107 cm high statue of wrathful goddess commissioned in the early-seventies by Tibetan.

And he was looked back since.

Despite not belonging to artist clan, Kalu has been tremendous success in art field because of his interest and hard work. He never had any guru but learnt the skills through his relentless practice. “He even takes measurement of statue with the eye scale till date,” says son Rakesh adding his father looks through inner eyes of an artist and as our naked eyes catch sight of his creations, it is like magic unfolding right in front of our eyes.

Kalu is a visionary who not only creates perfect replicas of images but also infuses them with aesthetic grace.