The work of internationally acclaimed sculptor Anish Kapoor, derived from diverse forms and materials, leaves viewers spellbound. It also clearly rests within the notions of infinity. His shapes, colors, and subject matter expressly indicate that he has a tremendous understanding of mathematics as Art. (I confess this is a somewhat personal view and not something universally shared by Kapoor followers.)

Born in India and raised in England, Kapoor employs Indian sensibilities that have been deeply influenced by Western art and design—evident in the collection of 50 of his pieces currently held by Tate Modern, in London. For instance, the use of pure pigments is an inspiration from the spice markets of India, while "When I Am Pregnant" is a clear Western expression in the minimalist tradition.

Operating within the realms of the Indian theory of ‘Rasa’, which dates back to antiquity, Kapoor’s work places that theory center stage: mathematical, spiritual, and emotional converge to make each of his works. His "As if to Celebrate, I Discovered a Mountain Blooming with Red Flowers" represents what one imagines India to be: vibrant and non-conformist.

Collaborating with other artists is a normal element of Kapoor’s work; however, his recent, much-admired and much-discussed collaboration with Salman Rushdie is the first time that Kapoor has worked with a writer. Entitled "Blood Relations, or an Interrogation of the Arabian Nights", the sculpture was inspired by Rushdie’s words and emerged from 20 years of dialogue between Kapoor and Rushdie, who noted: “I've responded very strongly to the sensuality of Anish's forms and to his ability to remain lyrical even when he works on an immense scale. We share a strong interest in the continuing power of myth; and forms, though they clearly belong to his own universe of shape, arise out of an interest, very similar to my own, in the physicality of the body and the existing world of phenomena.”

With offerings like "At the Hub of Things", "Mother as a Void", "The Earth,Turning the World Inside Out II" and "Turning the World Upside Down", one can see the approach to infinity mentioned earlier. Pure mathematics is set within the forms of art. Ranging from achievements such as "Cloud Gate", which has stunned the public, Kapoor has the ability to realize the same magnanimity in small works such as "The Healing of St. Thomas" and "Endless Column". The sculptor’s exploration of color, form and shapes has led him to embrace the void. Matter and non-matter, negative space and the filled, heavy and light, night and day are used with great passion and power to produce art with a unique voice.


In the introduction of the 1996 publication of his collection, writer/curator Germano Celant encapsulated the profound force behind Kapoor’s work: