“I have always believed that art should outlive the artist.

I am M A Sree Kandan, a sculptor from Mahabalipuram. My work is rooted in the traditional practices of stone and wood carving and bronze sculpture, carrying forward an artistic legacy shaped over generations.

I was born into a family of blacksmiths in Kanyakumari, but my fascination with art began when I was young. During my summer holidays, I would assist an artist in my village. I was fascinated by how a blank canvas could slowly become a face, a form and a story. Those moments stayed with me and eventually shaped the path I chose.

Choosing art as a career was not the conventional decision, but my parents supported me wholeheartedly. I pursued my Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in traditional architecture and sculpture at government-aided colleges in Tamil Nadu. Today, I am pursuing a Ph.D. in Chola bronze sculpture, continuing to learn from the traditions that first drew me to art.

Over the years, my work has taken me far beyond Mahabalipuram. I have worked on temple projects in Fiji, Sweden and Réunion Island, exhibited my sculptures and taught aspiring artists. Yet, Mahabalipuram remains home.

The hardest part of being a traditional artist is not the physical effort or the patience the craft demands. It is making people understand why this art still matters.

Every traditional technique carries knowledge passed down through generations. When a skill disappears, we lose more than a way of making art. We lose a part of our heritage.

That is why seeing young people take an interest gives me hope. Some come to learn, some intern with us, and some stay simply because they fall in love with the craft.

A sculpture may take months to create, but it can outlive the hands that made it by generations. If my hands can help carry this tradition forward, that is the legacy I want to leave behind.”