Anish Kapoor is a renowned British-Indian sculptor known for his large-scale, site-specific installations and his manipulation of form, scale, and perception. Born on March 12, 1954, in Mumbai, India, Kapoor moved to London in the early 1970s to study art at Hornsey College of Art and later at the Chelsea School of Art and Design.
Kapoor's interest in art was fostered by his mother, who was a cultural figure in India, and his father, who ran a hydroelectric business. His early works were influenced by his Indian heritage, particularly the concepts of the void and the sublime, which are prevalent in Indian philosophy and art.
His career took off in the 1980s with his participation in international exhibitions such as the Venice Biennale, where he won the prestigious Premio duemila in 1990. Kapoor's work often explores themes of duality (absence and presence, inside and outside), which he explores through the use of materials like pigment, stone, and later, stainless steel, mirrors, and PVC.
Kapoor's art often engages with the viewer's perception, using optical illusions and the manipulation of light and space. His use of reflective surfaces, voids, and seemingly endless depths challenges the viewer's understanding of physical space. His works are not only visually impactful but also conceptually rich, often dealing with themes of infinity, the body, and the sublime.
Anish Kapoor has been at the center of several controversies, notably:
Kapoor has received numerous awards and honors, including:
His works have been exhibited worldwide in places like:
For further reading and research: