Anish Kapoor Sculptor, member of the New British Sculpture group, winner of the Turner Prize Country: Great Britain

Biography of Anish Kapoor

Anish Kapoor is an Indian sculptor and a member of the "New British Sculpture" group. He was born on May 12, 1954, in Bombay (Mumbai), India. Kapoor's mother was a Jewish immigrant from Baghdad, and his grandfather served in a synagogue in Pune, so he grew up in a Hindu-Jewish atmosphere. In the early 1970s, Kapoor moved to London to study art. He first enrolled at Hornsey College of Art and later attended the Chelsea School of Art and Design.

Kapoor achieved international recognition with personal exhibitions at Tate and Hayward galleries in London, as well as in Basel, Munich, Berlin, Madrid, Vienna, and Boston. His sculptures adorn various locations worldwide, from North America to Norway and Japan. In 1990, he represented the United Kingdom and received the "Premio Duemila" award at the XLIV Venice Biennale. In 1991, Anish Kapoor was awarded the prestigious Turner Prize.

Some of Kapoor's most famous sculptures include "Cloud Gate," "Chicago," and "Sky Mirror," which are showcased at the Rockefeller Center in New York. His sculptures often feature simple yet captivating designs, with wavy, curved forms and vibrant colors. They attract viewers with their mystique, size, and beauty. Initially, Kapoor covered his sculptures and the surrounding floor with powdered pigment, inspired by the vivid buildings and temples of India. He later turned to noble, simplistic stone, frequently employing dualistic motifs such as earth-sky, matter-spirit, feminine-masculine, visible-invisible, and more, resulting in intricate sculptural forms. His latest works are based on reflection and distortion, with mirror-like surfaces. The Indian sculptor often utilizes red wax, reminiscent of flesh and blood.

Kapoor's sculptures can be found in various locations worldwide. For example, his sculpture is installed on the shores of Lake Lødingen in Norway, while "Sky Mirror," a large reflective artwork, is located in Nottingham, England. "Cloud Gate," a 110-ton stainless steel sculpture, adorns the Rockefeller Center in New York, and in 2006, another "Sky Mirror" was added to it. Kapoor is currently working on a memorial for the British victims of the September 11th terrorist attacks, and he is also involved in several other sculptural projects, including the construction of metro stations in Naples. In 2008, he held a personal exhibition in Boston and created the composition "Memory" for the Guggenheim Foundation.

In 2009, Kapoor became the first invited artistic director for the Brighton Festival. He not only curated the event but also personally created four sculptures for it, including another "Sky Mirror," the large work "The Dismemberment of Jeanne d'Arc," and the installation "Imagined Monochrome." The festival attracted a significant number of visitors, leading the police to redirect traffic and ensure the organization of the event to prevent overcrowding.

Throughout his career, Kapoor has also worked in the field of architecture, stating that his works are a combination of sculpture and architecture. Among his architectural projects are the aforementioned metro stations in Naples and a memorial project for Princess Diana.

In September-December 2009, Kapoor's exhibition took place at the Royal Academy in London, making him the first sculptor to receive this honor during his lifetime.