TaylaA461435: adding a bio v1

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adding a bio v1

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{{short description|Indian artist (1883-1953)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2022}}
{{Use Indian English|date=December 2022}}
{{Infobox person
| honorific_prefix =
| name = Gian Singh
| honorific_suffix =
| image = Portrait painting of the late Gian Singh Naqqash by his son, G.S. Sohan Singh.jpg
| caption = Portrait painting of Gian Singh Naqqash by his son, [[G.S. Sohan Singh]]
| birth_date = {{birth year|1883}}
| birth_place = [[Amritsar]], [[Punjab, British India]]
| death_date = {{death year and age|1953|1883}}
| death_place = [[Amritsar]], [[Punjab, India]]
| known_for = [[Sikh art]]
| notable_works = Murals located in the [[Golden Temple]] complex
| style = Mohrakashi<br>naqqashi
| title = Official naqqash (artist) of the Golden Temple
| term = 1899 – 1931
| children = Sunder Singh<br>Jagat Singh<br>[[G.S. Sohan Singh]]
| parents =
}}
'''Gian Singh''' (1883 – 1953), known as '''Gian Singh Naqqash''', was an Indian artist who specialized in ''naqqashi'' ([[engraving]]) and ''mohrakashi'' ([[fresco]]) methods.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|date=2007-03-20|title=Gian Singh Naqqash, Bhai|url=https://www.allaboutsikhs.com/biographies/1900/gian-singh-naqqash-bhai/|access-date=2020-07-10|website=Gateway To Sikhism|language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":32">{{Cite web |last1=Bakshi |first1=Artika Aurora |last2=Dhillon |first2=Ganeev Kaur |date=2021 |title=The Mural Arts of Panjab |url=https://nishaannagaara.com/the-mural-arts-of-panjab/ |id=[https://nishaannagaara.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Nishaan-2021-Annual-Issue.pdf PDF] |access-date=2023-05-26 |website=Nishaan Nagaara Magazine (2021 annual issue) |pages=46–51}}</ref><ref name=":6">{{Cite book |last=Srivastava |first=R. P. |title=Punjab Painting |publisher=Abhinav Publications |year=1983 |isbn=9788170171744 |pages=52}}</ref> He was a fresco painter and worked at the [[Golden Temple]] for more than 33 years.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|last=Service|first=Tribune News|date=|title=Family of artists & legacy of 'most talented' Sunder Singh, 17|url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/archive/punjab/family-of-artists-legacy-of-most-talented-sunder-singh-17-754870|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-07-10|website=Tribuneindia News Service|language=en}}</ref><ref name=":6" /> He is particularly known for painting in the style that is known as the [[Sikh art|Sikh school of art]].<ref name=":1">{{Cite book|last=Srivastava|first=R. P.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VoPu1scXkXYC&dq=Gian+Singh+Naqqash&pg=PA52|title=Punjab Painting|date=1983|publisher=Abhinav Publications|isbn=978-81-7017-174-4|language=en}}</ref> He was notable for localizing Sikh art by developing a local Punjabi style that was disassociated from the [[Pahari painting|Pahari]] style, specifically the [[Kangra painting|Kangra]] variety, and [[Persian art|Persian]] art styles, which had influenced Punjabi and Sikh art prior.<ref name=":6" /> Gian Singh achieved this by incorporating local Punjabi features, dress, and settings in the depicted figuratives.<ref name=":6" /> Later-on in his life, he was awarded and recognized by the [[Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee]] for his artistic efforts.<ref name=":6" />

== Biography ==

=== Early life ===
Gian Singh was born in 1883 in [[Amritsar]], [[Punjab Province (British India)|Punjab Province, British India]] (now [[Punjab, India]]).<ref name=":0" /> His family had no prior background in art.<ref name=":32" /> His father was Charan Singh or Taba Singh, who worked as a comb-maker.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":32" /><ref name=":4">{{Cite news |last=Walia |first=Varinder |date=1 December 2005 |title=The rich life of an artist who was a pauper |work=The Tribune |url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/2005/20051201/aplus.htm#1}}</ref><ref name=":10">{{Cite web |last=Kaur |first=Maneet |date=5 December 2018 |title=Mohrakashi and the Naqqashes of Harmandir Sahib - Overview |url=https://www.sahapedia.org/mohrakashi-and-the-naqqashes-of-harmandir-sahib |website=Sahapedia}}</ref><ref name=":6" /> As a child, he was a student of [[Gyani|Giani]] Thakur Singh, a Sikh missionary and academic.<ref name=":32" /> He studied until the 5th standard.<ref name=":10" /> Later-on after finishing primary school, he became the apprentice of Nihal Singh Naqqash, son of [[Bishan Singh (artist)|Bishan Singh]] and a third generation descendant of [[Kehar Singh (artist)|Kehar Singh Naqqash]], whom had worked under the patronage of [[Ranjit Singh|Maharaja Ranjit Singh]].<ref name=":32" /><ref name=":10" /><ref name=":6" /> He studied drawing and painting under Nihal Singh.<ref name=":10" /> He remained a student of Nihal Singh for 14 years until the latter's death in 1905.<ref name=":32" /> After Nihal Singh's death, he was instructed by Nihal Singh's brother, Jawahar Singh, another artist who worked at the Golden Temple complex.<ref name=":10" /> Jawahar Singh taught him the Kangra school of miniature painting and further advanced his studies in the Sikh school of art.<ref name=":10" /> He became indebted in 1911 after loaning money from an Amritsar book publisher, his former employer, to afford to cremate his deceased father.<ref name=":4" />

=== Later life ===
[[File:Photograph of Bhai Gian Singh Naqqash standing beside another individual.jpg|thumb|Photograph of Bhai Gian Singh Naqqash (right)]]
He primarily worked on painting [[Mural|murals]] at the Golden Temple complex in Amritsar.<ref name=":32" /> He served as the official naqqash (engraver) artist of the shrine complex from circa 1899 to 1931.<ref name=":10" /> Gian Singh was under the influence of the [[Akali movement]] (''lehar''), and thus depicted [[Khanda (Sikh symbol)|khanda]] symbolism and [[Kirpan|kirpans]] in his mural work at the Golden Temple.<ref name=":10" /> He chose to paint using a deep, greyish-blue colour (known in Punjabi as ''[[surmai]]'') instead of actual black, this reason cited is that he did so to "remain close to the real world".<ref name=":10" /> Most of his mural work within the Golden Temple shrine is located near the Har ki Pauri area but most of his wall paintings have been retouched in the years since.<ref name=":10" /> It was Gian Singh's idea that the arches of windows located within the shrine would be decorated by paintings.<ref name=":5" />
[[File:Sunflower in tempera by Gian Singh Naqqash.jpg|thumb|Sunflower in tempera by Gian Singh Naqqash. 6x4 inches, kept in the collection of Art-Heritage, Amritsar.]]
His commencement of novel motifs on the inner walls, ceiling, and arches of the windows of the first floor serve as valid, extant references of his work.<ref name=":10" /> He painted local, seasonal flowers in motif designs as part of the ''dehin'' (a variety of pattern category which is a medium of expression of the imaginative study of idealized forms<ref>{{Cite web |last=Jaspal |first=Namita |date=25 May 2017 |title=Art conservation of Sri Harmandar Saheb Ji (The Golden Temple), Amritsar, India |url=https://heritagepreservationatelier.com/2017/05/25/art-conservation-of-sri-harmandar-saheb-ji-the-golden-temple-amritsar-india/ |access-date=19 August 2023 |website=Heritage Preservation Atelier}}</ref>) within a ''mohrakashi'' (fresco).<ref name=":10" /> He would paint florals, foliage (leaves), creepers, or bushes being surrounded by grapevines or arabesque floral patterns in corners, squares and rectangles, as part of an arrangement.<ref name=":10" /> Fine detail was paid attention to even a single petal of a depicted floral design, as these flowers were artistic representations of both season and ''[[raga]]'' (traditional Indian musical measure, mode, or metre), and thus a systematic pattern is noted.<ref name=":10" /> The blooming flowers were depicted within a ''dehin'' and arranged by season or raga.<ref name=":5">{{Cite web |last=Kaur |first=Maneet |date=26 April 2018 |title=Mohrakashi of Bhai Gian Singh Naqqash and Art Legacy in his family |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6DwOveK317A |access-date=20 August 2023 |website=YouTube}}</ref> The floral work of Gian Singh is a representation of ''[[Nāma|nām]] [[Rasa (aesthetics)|rasa]]''.<ref name=":10" />

Another innovation of his is that he painted small depictions of the actual buildings and structures of gurdwaras within his frescoes.<ref name=":10" /> Besides the avian designs he introduced, he also ushered in floral designs that were reminiscent of the style of [[Ustad Mansur]] of [[Jahangir]]'s period.<ref name=":6" /> He was also responsible for introducing [[Gurmukhi]] calligraphic designs sourced from the ''[[Ashtapadi]]'' of ''[[Sukhmani Sahib]]'' and the ''[[Japji Sahib]]'' to the interior arches of windows located on the first floor of the Golden Temple.<ref name=":10" /><ref name=":5" /> Gian Singh also possessed talent in in-laid stone artwork, specifically [[pietra dura]], which he implemented at various [[Gurdwara|gurdwaras]].<ref name=":10" />

His unique style of incorporating nature, giving a 3D effect to his works, and scribing [[gurbani]] verses on ''gach'' (plaster), is notable.<ref name=":32" /> For example, when he painted foliage such as the leaves of a flower, he would add three-dimensional characteristics and details.<ref name=":5" /> On avian (bird) designs, he would go as far as depicting small hairs to the figurines to bring more verisimilitude.<ref name=":5" /> Much attention to fine details and highlights were paid attention to by him.<ref name=":5" /> Whilst prior artists would simply draw straight lines to create a required shape, Gian Singh improvised by adding more elaborate and finer aspects to bring realism to his artwork.<ref name=":5" /> Gian Singh believed that by painting more realistic work, it would bring the viewer closer to the divine.<ref name=":5" />

He used traditional methods of producing paints using natural ingredients and worked with handcrafted brushes.<ref name=":32" /> He created his own pigments and brushes.<ref name=":5" /> He would grind and burn the pigments himself to produce the necessary colours for his artwork.<ref name=":5" /> He would keep various stones in a ''katori'' (small bowl), which were burnt with [[Cow dung|cow-dung]] overnight.<ref name=":5" /> This burning would produce a powder form, which was used for the painting of murals.<ref name=":5" /> The pigment colours needed for mural painting in those days were extracted from natural sources and during preparation, further ingredients were added to the concoction, such as leaves, stems, pulses, seeds (such as linseeds), amid others.<ref name=":5" />
[[File:Fresco depicting naturalistic elements of fish and turtles by Gian Singh Naqqash.jpg|thumb|Fresco (mohrakashi dehin design) depicting naturalistic elements of fish and turtles by Gian Singh Naqqash]]
Painting was a deeply spiritual activity for Gian Singh, as he would [[Naam Japo|recite the name]] of God, ''[[Waheguru]]'', whilst he painted.<ref name=":32" /> He would also chant along to [[gurbani]] [[kirtan]] in the background as he worked within the Golden Temple.<ref name=":5" /> Before beginning work on a new mural, he would seek the blessings of [[Vishvakarma|Vishwakarma]] and pay homage to his masters (''ustads''), Nihal Singh and Jawahar Singh.<ref name=":10" /> Whilst former Sikh artists would depict [[Hindu deities|Indic deities]] on the body of the pedestal, emulating their [[Mughal painting|Mughal]] and [[Persian art|Persian]] forebears, Gian Singh would replace this with depictions of "grapples" (known as ''pakṛāṅ'' in [[Punjabi language|Punjabi]]) of animals (such as birds), flowers, creepers, and other designs.<ref name=":3" /> Formerly, Sikh muralists painted bold designs but Gian Singh took inspiration from the natural world surrounding him which he had observed.<ref name=":5" />

Aside from mural work, he also engaged in ''gach'' ([[Stucco|stuccowork]]), ''jarathari'' ([[mosaic]] work), and ''tukri'' ([[Cut glass|cut-glass]] work).<ref name=":4" /> He was not only skilled in the Sikh school but also the [[Kangra painting|Kangra]], [[Pahari painting|Pahari]], and [[Mughal painting|Mughal]] schools of painting.<ref name=":10" />

Apart from being an artist, he was also a prolific writer and wrote many works of literature in [[Punjabi language|Punjabi]], [[Hindi]], or [[Urdu]] on heritage art and local craft.<ref name=":10" /> His literary works were published in Amritsar by Bhai Buta Singh Pratap Singh Pustakawale.<ref name=":10" />

After retiring from his position as an official naqqash artist of the Golden Temple, he delved into framing of pictures and photography.<ref name=":10" />

Gian Singh had three sons. His eldest son Sunder Singh was martyred in the [[Jallianwala Bagh massacre|1919 Jallianwala Bagh massacre]], when he was only 17 years.<ref name=":4" /><ref name=":10" /> His middle son, Jagat Singh, went on to become an [[ayurveda]] expert<ref name=":2" /> while his youngest son [[G.S. Sohan Singh]] followed Gian Singh's footsteps and became a painter himself.<ref>{{Cite web|title=G.S. Sohan Singh Artist – Art Heritage|url=http://art-heritage.com/sohan-singh/|access-date=2020-07-13|language=en-US}}</ref> G.S. Sohan Singh began his work as an artist with works of [[Oil painting|oil on canvas]], in-spite of the fact he had been trained in the traditional Sikh art methods.<ref name=":10" />
[[File:Photograph of Bhai Gian Singh Naqqash painting toys in his later years.jpg|thumb|Photograph of Bhai Gian Singh Naqqash painting toys in his later years]]
In his final years, Gian Singh was in a destitute state and resorted to selling clay and wooden toys he painted himself to earn a livelihood.<ref name=":4" /><ref name=":10" /> He also painted banners for theatres during these years.<ref name=":10" /> He also went to Pakistan (accompanied by his grandson Surinder Singh) to learn about [[Woodblock printing|block printing]] of paintings from the FW Company at [[Anarkali Bazaar]] in Lahore.<ref name=":10" /><ref name=":5" /> The block printings of paintings he produced were sold for food.<ref name=":5" /> He was skilled in [[monochrome]] and tri-colour halftone blocks for the usage for painting religious themes.<ref name=":10" /> He also experimentally dabbled in [[Watercolor painting|watercolour paintings]], oil on canvas paintings, calendar design, [[Dust jacket|book-jacket]] designs, and additionally worked on newspaper advertisement design.<ref name=":10" /> He also engaged in some photography, such as by taking pictures of the Golden Temple shrine complex.<ref name=":5" />

He kept a circle of friends who were also painters, some of whose names included [[Sobha Singh (painter)|Sobha Singh]], [[Mohinder Singh Randhawa]], [[Mulk Raj Anand]], and more.<ref name=":10" /> These personalities respected Gian Singh.<ref name=":10" />

Gian Singh was a mentor for his son, Sohan Singh, and trained him.<ref name=":5" /> Gian Singh also instructed his grandsons (such as Surinder Singh) on how to grind pigments and how to draw, often using harsh methods to pass on the knowledge.<ref name=":5" />

Gian Singh died in 1953 at the age of 70 in extreme poverty and indebted.<ref name=":4" />

== Legacy ==
[[File:Frescoes containing Gurmukhi calligraphy in tondo sourced from Sikh scriptures above the arches of windows located within the Golden Temple shrine in Amritsar, by Gian Singh Naqqash 01.jpg|thumb|Frescoes containing Gurmukhi calligraphy in tondo with lexemes sourced from Sikh scriptures above the arches of windows located within the Golden Temple shrine in Amritsar, by Gian Singh Naqqash (since retouched and restored by other artists).]]
Much of his artwork has been destroyed in subsequent decades by ''[[kar seva]]'' babas and their destructive renovations on Sikh heritage sites, which Gian Singh had expressed worry about before his passing.<ref name=":4" />

His documentation of creating a mural as per the traditional Sikh school can be found within his ''Naqqashi Darpan'' work.<ref name=":10" /> It has been both subsequently translated and narrated by his grandson, Surinder Singh.<ref name=":10" /> Much of the corpus of artwork produced by Gian Singh have been published in Sikh and Punjabi periodicals, such as ''Preet Lari'', ''Ajit'', ''Veer Bharat'', ''Sher-e-Bharat'' and other publications.<ref name=":10" />

His descendants are mulling setting up a digital repository of Gian Singh's artwork that will be available to the general masses.<ref name=":10" /> They plan to help revive the traditional Sikh school of art through such an endeavor.<ref name=":10" /> His artwork remains a subject of study by experts in the field and a panel has been formed for this regard.<ref name=":10" />

{{Blockquote|text="He (Bhai Gian Singh Naqqash) focused all his attention and worked very hard like doing meditation and wonderful naqqashi created by him with his art are like attaining spiritual enlightenment."|author=Harinder Singh "Roopi", translated by Davinder Aujla (Mohali)<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kaur |first=Maneet |date=26 April 2018 |title=Mohrakashi of Bhai Gian Singh Naqqash and Art Legacy in his family |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6DwOveK317A |access-date=20 August 2023 |website=YouTube}}</ref>}}R. P. Srivastava compared the influence of Bhai Gian Singh on Sikh and Punjabi art to that of [[Vir Singh (writer)|Bhai Vir Singh]] and [[Dhani Ram Chatrik]] in Sikh and [[Punjabi poetry]].<ref name=":6" />

Some works by Gian Singh Naqqash are preserved at the Sikh Research Centre of the [[Khalsa College, Amritsar]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=23 March 2022 |title=Treasure trove of the past: Sikh Research Centre at Khalsa College, Amritsar |url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/amritsar/treasure-trove-of-the-past-sikh-research-centre-at-khalsa-college-amritsar-379994 |access-date=20 June 2024 |work=The Tribune}}</ref> He was the only Sikh ''naqqash'' artist to leave behind groundbreaking books covering painting, including the ''naqqashi'' method.<ref name=":6" />

== Books ==

=== Bibliography ===
* [[File:Architectural sketch depicting a dome design by Gian Singh Naqqash from page 279 of his book, Vishkarma Darpan, ca.1926.jpg|thumb|[[Sikh architecture|Architectural]] sketch depicting a dome design by Gian Singh Naqqash from page 279 of his book, Vishkarma Darpan, ca.1926]]''Naqqashi Darpan'' (1924), covering natural art motifs and designs involving flora, such as flowers, and animals<ref name=":32" /><ref name=":3">{{Cite book |last=Singh |first=Harbans |title=The Encyclopedia of Sikhism |publisher=Punjabi University, Patiala |pages=79–81}}</ref><ref name=":10" />
* ''Visva Karma Darpan'' or ''Vishkarma Darpan'' (1926), covering decorative, architectural, and furniture designs<ref>{{Cite book|last=Srivastava|first=R. P.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VoPu1scXkXYC&dq=%22Naqqashi+Darpan%22&pg=PA59|title=Punjab Painting|date=1983|publisher=Abhinav Publications|isbn=978-81-7017-174-4|language=en}}</ref><ref name=":3" /><ref name=":10" />
* ''Naqqashi Art Shiksha'' or ''Nikashi Art Sikhya'' (1942), sketches to instruct novices on how to draw''<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":10" />''
* ''Taj-i-[[Zardozi|Zargari]]'' (Vol.I in 1920 and Vol.II in 1930), about artwork involving gold and silver ornaments, 1539 designs in-total<ref name=":32" /><ref name=":3" /><ref name=":10" />
* ''Kasheeda'', about executing naqsha artwork on [[Shawl|shawls]] and other fabric types<ref name=":32" />

=== Others ===
* ''Gian Chitravali: Masterpieces of the Late Bhai Gian Singh Naqqash'' (written by [[G. S. Sohan Singh]]) - 1956<ref>{{Cite book|last=Thursby|first=Gene R.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PNsIoNN5ie8C&dq=Gian+Chitravali-Master+pieces+of+Bhai+Gian+Singh+%E2%80%98Naqqash%E2%80%99&pg=PR13|title=The Sikhs|date=1992|publisher=BRILL|isbn=978-90-04-09554-0|language=en}}</ref><ref name=":32" />

== Honours ==

* Banarsi Siropa - [[Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee]] (1949)<ref>{{Cite web|title=Bhai Gian Singh Naqash – Art Heritage|url=http://art-heritage.com/bhai-gian-singh-naqash/|access-date=2020-07-10|language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":4" /><ref name=":6" />

== Gallery ==

=== Mural (Naqqashi) ===
<gallery>
File:Fresco of floral motifs and the building structure from the walls of pre-1984 Akal Takht complex.jpg|Fresco of floral and animal motifs and the building structure from the walls of original Akal Takht complex, by Gian Singh Naqqash, ca.1942 (destroyed in the mid-1980's)
File:Mural of decorative floral motifs with a representation of the Golden Temple at-centre, by Gian Singh Naqqash.jpg|Mural of decorative floral motifs with a representation of the Golden Temple at-centre, by Gian Singh Naqqash
</gallery>

=== Miniatures ===
<gallery>
File:Painting of Guru Nanak seated under a tree in the presence of Bhai Bala, Bhai Mardana, and his two sons (Sri Chand and Lakhmi Das), by Gian Singh Naqqash.jpg|Painting of Guru Nanak seated under a tree in the presence of Bhai Bala, Bhai Mardana, and his two sons (Sri Chand and Lakhmi Das), by Gian Singh Naqqash
File:Painting of all the Sikh gurus together by Gian Singh Naqqash.jpg|Painting of all the Sikh gurus together by Gian Singh Naqqash
File:'Types of Irreligion', by Gian Singh 'Naqqash', published in 'Gian Chitravali, Masterpieces of the Late Bhai Gian Singh Naqqash' (1956).jpg|''Types of Irreligion''
File:'Samadhi', by Gian Singh 'Naqqash', published in 'Gian Chitravali, Masterpieces of the Late Bhai Gian Singh Naqqash' (1956).jpg|''Samadhi''
File:'The Inviting Doom', by Gian Singh 'Naqqash', published in 'Gian Chitravali, Masterpieces of the Late Bhai Gian Singh Naqqash' (1956).jpg|''The Inviting Doom''
File:'The Effect of Age', by Gian Singh 'Naqqash', published in 'Gian Chitravali, Masterpieces of the Late Bhai Gian Singh Naqqash' (1956).jpg|''The Effect of Age''
File:'Memories of Homeland', by Gian Singh 'Naqqash', published in 'Gian Chitravali, Masterpieces of the Late Bhai Gian Singh Naqqash' (1956).jpg|''Memories of Homeland''
File:'The Pilgrim', by Gian Singh 'Naqqash', published in 'Gian Chitravali, Masterpieces of the Late Bhai Gian Singh Naqqash' (1956).jpg|''The Pilgrim''
File:'The Eternal Strife', a striking masterpiece by Gian Singh 'Naqqash' depicting the "Nikli Matha Phore Kai" verse of the Chandi di Vār composition included in the Dasam Granth, Durga in-battle against the Asuras.jpg|''The Eternal Strife''
File:'Camel Fight', by Gian Singh 'Naqqash', published in 'Gian Chitravali, Masterpieces of the Late Bhai Gian Singh Naqqash' (1956).jpg|''Camel Fight''
</gallery>

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Naqqash, Gian Singh}}
[[Category:1883 births]]
[[Category:1953 deaths]]
[[Category:Male artists from Punjab, India]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian male artists]]
[[Category:Artists from Amritsar]]
[[Category:Artists from British India]]
[[Category:19th-century Indian artists]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian artists]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian engravers]]
[[Category:19th-century Indian painters]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian painters]]
[[Category:Mosaic artists]]
[[Category:Hindi-language Indian writers]]
[[Category:Urdu-language Indian writers]]
[[Category:Punjabi-language writers]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian non-fiction writers]]
[[Category:Art writers]]
[[Category:Indian Sikhs]]

Gian Singh (artist) - Revision history

TaylaA461435: adding a bio v1