Hari Singh (artist)

S. Hari Singh (1894-1970) was an Indian artist.

He was one of the few artists who have given immense contribution to the field of painting but preferred to remain elusive and unknown, always avoiding publicity and personal glorification. Many artists of repute like Gurbax Singh Thethi, G.S. Sohan Singh, Dwarka Dass and S. Ram Singh were his disciples. He a was founding member of the Indian Academy of Fine Arts in Amritsar and remained its Vice President until the end of his life. His contribution to art is immense and is acclaimed as one of the greatest artist of India.

Birth and early years
S. Hari Singh was born in 1894 in the Ramgarhia Sikh family. His father S. Ganda Singh was a famed architect and an artist. After completing primary education he pursued his dream to become an artist. Blessed with immense creative skills and artistic genius, he joined S. Ram Singh, principal of the Art School, Lahore, founded by Rudyard Kipling's father. His talent flowered there and he specialized in theatrical painting. He joined the Alfred Theatre Company in 1910 and also exhibited locally. He remained with the theatrical company for 14 years.

At this time, he met famous artists like Master Hussain Baksh, Mohammad Deen (of Lahore) and Dineshaji Irani and Agha Hashir Kashmiri. He also met Rabindra Nath Tagore who was an immense inspiration for him and from whom he learned many technical details. The company produced some memorable dramas like Turki Hoor, Krishan Sudama.

The Alfred Theatre Company merged with Madan Theatres Ltd of Calcutta owned by Jamshedji Framji, in 1927. The company owned 127 theatre houses all over India and controlled half of the country’s box office. There he became the art director responsible for scene setting, background paintings, and other technical sophistication. The plays ran for weeks or years, depending upon their popularity and went on tours sometimes for months together to India, Burma, Sri Lanka, the called Ceylon, and Indonesia. He began to work with foreign directors like Eugenio De Liguore, Camille Le Grand, and Georgia Manninni. The entire teamwork produced sets and popular storylines that were commercially successful.

With the advent of silent motion pictures, he joined the Pioneer Studio of Calcutta (now Kolkata) and worked as art director for 4 years. He pursued detailed study of ancient culture, dresses, and costumes of characters. As a leading Indian artist he used to present to durbars (Royal Court). He created many spectacular paintings for the Maharajas in his distinctive style.

Return to the Punjab
After spending 22 years away from the Punjab, he came back Amritsar and set up a studio the “Sardar Studio” at Hall Bazar, Amritsar. The studio is still in existence run by his son Kuldeep Singh. His longtime associate S.G. Thakur Singh and Master Gurdit Sing joined with him in forming Indian Academy of Fine Arts, Amritsar and he remained its Vice Chairman till his death. Numbers of exhibitions were organized and several prizes and medals were awarded to him for his artwork. He was also a writer newspapers, magazines, and periodicals mainly about art. In Amritsar, he had number of pupils, some of whom went on to become great artists like G.S. Sohan Singh, Ram Singh, Gurbax Singh Thethi, S. Mehar Singh and Dwarka Dass. He was a close friend of Sobha Sing.

Paintings
The master artist was a great patriot. Independence movements had great impact on him. A strong advocate of freedom struggle and leaders who fought for freedom, he made portraits of Mahatama Gandhi, Pandit Nehru, Chander Shekhar Azad, Maulana Azad and Jinnah. These paintings were put on display at various museums. A set of 20 memorable pictures of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, Rani Jindan, Maharaja Duleep Singh and Fakir Azizuddin were made by him and these were purchased by Punjab Government at the recommendation of M.S. Randhawa, ICS who was a great admirer of Singh’s art. One of his famous paintings of Guru Nanak with Bala and Mardana is at Nankana Sahib Gurdwara. Another painting of Guru Gobind Singh ji prepared by him adorns at Sri Hazoor Sahib at Nanded. The third painting in the series was sold at New York at a price of Rs.1.10 crore. Another painting of sixth Guru Hargobind Sahib was installed at Akal Takht, Amritsar and remained there till Operation Blue Star in 1984 where it was destroyed. A painting of Guru Nanak was adjudged as best painting by the Quincentenary celebration committee in 1970 and it remains in Central Sikh Museum, Amritsar. the Language Department of the Punjab, in recognition of his writings and contribution to art, gave him a financial grant every year for research work.

Death
S. Hari Singh died in February 1970. His portrait was installed at museum in Golden Temple, Amritsar, which is still there in recognition of his contribution to the Sikh Religion. In 1995, at a ceremony at the World Sikh Convention, he was honoured posthumously with a silver plaque, Siropa, by the SGPC.

Today, his art work can be seen at various gurudwaras in India namely Hazoor Sahib, Patna Sahib, Nankana Sahib (Pakistan), the Golden Temple (Amritsar), the Gurudwara Ram Sar, Taran, the KaulSar and the Indian Academy of Fine Arts, Amritsar as well as other places.