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Coinage 2018
Public Sculpture at UPM circle,Manipal, India.
7assorted stones
27feet height 20feet diameter
Long term loan from the Artist
“Coinage” – An epitome of trustworthiness, vision and dreams
How doesone integrate the values of trustworthiness, vision and dream into a single entity at one go?
Money is a store of value in itself and can therefore, is able to represent these values adequately.
In 1934, a young visionary and businessman,ThonseUpendraAnanthaPaistepped into the barren land of Mannapalla. His aspirationsforgeneration of employment opportunities in the region and his dream for a bright future for the people have materialized today in the form of the dream city of Manipal.
ThonseUpendraAnanthaPai, along with his brothers started The Syndicate Bank, which was an early bird in the banking industry of the country. In 1941, he planted a small sapling which has now grown into a giant tree and is considered as the foremost and the most comprehensive Printing and Technology solutions company in the country – that’s Manipal Technologies Limited for you. The beacon of trustworthiness, vision and dream continues to shine bright and unaverred.
This installation is an apt memorial for ThonseUpendraAnanthaPai, who personified the values of trustworthiness, vision and dream.
ThonseUpendraAnanthaPai was instrumental in developing the concept of Pigmy Banking which takes its inspiration from the “money saved is money earned” concept of coastal life. The remarkability of this prudence sparked the imaginations of a renowned contemporary artist from coastal Karnataka - Tallur L. N who manifested his thoughts by way of this installation named "Coinage". This work of art is a singular expression ofthe success of Manipal and the rich socio-cultural history of the region and will stand tall as an integral part of the ThonseUpendraAnanthaPai( 26-11-1895 to 13-12-1956) Memorial Circle.
Title: Coinage
Artist: Tallur L N
Medium: 7 assorted stones.
Size: 27 ft height; 20 ft Diameter.
Collection: Long term loan from the Artist.
Glimpses of history through the coins:
*The coin in the base is the one rupee coin that is currently in circulation. On the south face, it has the Lion Capital and on the north face, it has One Rupee written on it along with wheat spikes.
* In the second coin, the south-west face depicts the coin of Vijayanagara Dynasty and has Kannada text, while its south-east face shows ‘double fish’ seal that belongs to Alupa Dynasty of the 8th century.
* The third coin is square in shape and similar to the five paisa coin which is not in use now. Its north-west face shows cowry shells and areca flower that represents the richness and fertility of the region. Its north-east face depicts a Bharatanatyam mudra and a Mangalore tile. It also includes the year in which the present Manipal Technologies Limited was started.
* The west face of the fourth coin depicts the face of Mahatma Gandhi and the year in which he visited this region. Its east face has Chanakya’s picture.
* The fifth coin that resembles the erstwhile three paisacoin and has images of fishing on the north face and a buffalo and agricultural equipment on its south face.
* In the sixth coin, the south-east face contains a view of the paddy field and the south-west face depicts a Tiger, which is also the logo of the Reserve Bank of India.
* The topmost coin i.e., the seventh coinresembles the pre-independence 25 paisacoin with a hole in the centre. It has an image of the sun on one side and the moon on the other side.
photowork