Neeraj Gupta’s monumental artwork brings a fluid, philosophical enquiry to the National Gallery.
At the National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA) in New Delhi, where India’s artistic past and present engage in an ongoing conversation, one sculpture has emerged as a compelling focal point of reflection during the National Contemporary Sculpture Exhibition held on the occasion of World Sculpture Day. Titled ‘Mystery of Interconnection,’ renowned sculptor Neeraj Gupta’s monumental work in Makrana marble is both a visual spectacle and a philosophical enquiry into the invisible forces that bind the world together.
Carved from the same storied marble that gave enduring life to some of India’s most celebrated monuments, Gupta’s sculpture transforms stone into a fluid, almost living presence. Rising from the ground with a striking sense of dynamism, the work invites viewers into a contemplative journey through ideas of connection, balance, continuity and transformation.
At first glance, the sculpture appears as an intricate network of interwoven forms suspended in perpetual motion. The upper section consists of looping tubular structures that twist, intersect and flow through one another, creating a labyrinthine composition that defies easy interpretation. There is no obvious beginning or end. Instead, the forms seem to emerge and dissolve into each other, generating a sense of mystery that rewards prolonged observation.
For Gupta, this ambiguity lies at the heart of the work. “We live in a world where everything appears separate, yet nothing truly exists in isolation,” says the artist. “The sculpture is an attempt to visualize those invisible connections—between people, cultures, memories, ecosystems and even cosmic energies. What appears complex or chaotic often conceals a deeper harmony.”
That deeper harmony becomes increasingly apparent as one navigates around the sculpture. Every shift in perspective reveals new alignments, voids and relationships between forms. The work resists a single reading, instead encouraging viewers to engage with it as an evolving experience.
The intertwined marble strands evoke a wide range of associations. Some may see biological systems, neural pathways or networks of communication. Others may be reminded of rivers, roots, galaxies or the intricate patterns of nature. Gupta deliberately leaves the imagery open-ended, allowing viewers to discover their own meanings within the composition.
“I wanted the sculpture to function like a conversation rather than a statement,” Gupta explains. “The moment a viewer begins tracing one form through the structure, they become aware of how difficult it is to separate one element from another. That mirrors life itself. Our identities, histories and experiences are constantly intersecting and influencing one another.”
While the upper section embodies complexity and movement, the lower portion introduces a powerful sense of balance. Elegant S-shaped curves rise from the ground, bisecting the structure and anchoring its intricate network above. These sweeping forms provide stability without diminishing the sense of dynamism.
The S-curve has long been celebrated in art and nature as a symbol of growth, continuity and transformation. In Gupta’s sculpture, it also serves as a conceptual bridge between apparent opposites. The sculptor notes that the work explores dualities that define human existence—order and chaos, matter and spirit, individuality and community. “We often think in terms of oppositions,” he says. “But nature teaches us that balance comes through integration, not separation. The base of the sculpture is designed to suggest that what we perceive as opposing forces are often complementary aspects of the same reality.”
This dialogue between complexity and stability generates much of the sculpture’s emotional and visual power. The upper structure appears almost weightless despite its monumental scale, while the base grounds the composition firmly in space. Together, they create a tension between movement and stillness that makes the marble seem unexpectedly fluid.
The choice of Makrana marble is integral to the work’s impact. Revered for its luminosity, purity and historical significance, the material carries centuries of artistic and architectural memory. Yet Gupta employs it in a distinctly contemporary vocabulary, demonstrating how traditional materials can continue to inspire new forms of expression.
Light plays a particularly important role in shaping the viewer’s experience. As sunlight moves across the polished surfaces, shadows shift through the interwoven forms, revealing fresh layers of complexity. The natural translucency of the marble softens the sculpture’s monumentality, lending it an almost ethereal presence.
Equally remarkable is Gupta’s command over the material itself. Smooth, polished contours transition into rough-hewn surfaces, creating a tactile dialogue between refinement and rawness. These contrasts highlight both the natural character of the stone and the transformative process of carving.
Installed against the stately architecture of NGMA, the sculpture establishes a compelling relationship with its surroundings. The historic façade provides a structured backdrop that accentuates the organic fluidity of the marble forms. Seen from different angles, the work appears to change continuously, reinforcing its central theme of interconnectedness and discovery.
In many ways, Mystery of Interconnection embodies the spirit of contemporary sculpture itself—rooted in tradition yet open to new interpretations and possibilities. It demonstrates how abstract forms can address universal concerns while remaining deeply personal and poetic.
Ultimately, Gupta’s sculpture is more than an object of aesthetic admiration. It is a meditation on the hidden networks that sustain existence and a reminder that beneath apparent complexity lies an underlying unity.
“The mystery is not that everything is connected,” Gupta reflects. “The real mystery is how often we forget that connection. Art has the power to remind us.”
In transforming a block of Makrana marble into a luminous exploration of relationships, movement and balance, Neeraj Gupta has created a work that resonates far beyond its physical form. Monumental yet intimate, timeless yet contemporary, Mystery of Interconnection stands as a powerful reflection on humanity’s place within a larger and ever-evolving whole.
Murtaza Ali Khan is an award-winning cultural critic, journalist, and academic. A jury member for the 69th & 70th National Film Awards, he has covered entertainment for The Hindu, The Sunday Guardian, and The Quint since 2008, with over 2,000 TV appearances as a media expert. He is also a film festival curator, translator of Hindujas and Bollywood, and a NET-qualified journalism educator.
