“Most people see a piece of chalk as something that disappears by the end of a school day. I saw it as a medium for miniature art—a way to hold the vastness of our sacred architecture in the palm of my hand.
My journey into miniature sculpture began in Hyderabad during 9th standard. Driven by curiosity, I started carving on broken chalk sticks and pencils. I had done numerous projects and smaller artworks just to build my base and understand the material.
There was no guide; the chalk broke thousands of times. But every break taught me about pressure, balance, and the quiet persistence needed for this craft.
Now a student of Applied Arts at JNAFAU, my heart remains in the intricate details of Indian heritage. Miniature art is entirely self-taught; no syllabus teaches you how to carve a detailed structure on a surface that can crumble with one wrong breath. It requires years of failure and repetition to reach this level of precision.
I am deeply influenced by Dravidian aesthetics—the Chola, Pallava, and Vijayanagara styles. To capture their precision, I’ve spent thousands of hours studying dimensions and listening to the discourses of Sri Chaganti Koteswara Rao Garu. His words gave me the bhakti and mental strength to sit in unwavering focus.
The Sri Swarnagiri project was my greatest challenge. It took 4,370 hours over 245 days and more than 15,000 chalk sticks. Working late at night after college, using only a surgical blade and even sourcing a gold-plated Sudarshana Chakra from Nepal for the gopuram, I chose chalk for its fragility. Creating something divine from a breakable material feels deeply meaningful. I hold one National and three International records for miniature art.
Beyond sacred structures, I’ve created a miniature Dr. B.R. Ambedkar statue for the museum near Tank Bund.
On this auspicious occasion of Sri Rama Navami, I’m reminded that skill alone is never enough. Without patience and faith, nothing lasts. I started with broken chalk and curiosity. If your intent is honest, even the simplest material will guide you. For me, this isn’t just art. It’s an offering. It’s faith.”
- Suram Sampath Kumar, Artist