The ‘untutored genius’ is the 80-year-old Nek Chand who has created a paradise in the form of the world-famous Rock Garden at Chandigarh. He is the creator-director of Rock Garden. He is called ‘untutored’ because he never had any formal training in art. He is a genius because he had made himself a garden sculpted with stone and recycled material, when years ago he began clearing the little patch of jungle, which was then at the outskirts of Chandigarh. Nek Chand is now hailed as India’s biggest contribution to outsider art. He has also taken the form of art called ‘art brut’ or ‘raw art’ to dizzying heights. The Swiss Commission for UNESCO has recognised his art as “an outstanding testimony of the difference a single man can make when he lives his dream” The Swiss Commission will be honouring him by way of a European exposition of his works. The five-month interactive show, “Realm of Nek Chand” was held at leading musliums in Switzerland, Belgium, France and Italy. ‘Raw vision’ is UK-based magazine pioneer in outsider art publications. Its 50th issue (Spring 2005) has featured Nek Chand. His Rock Garden sculptor ‘Women by the Waterfall’ was published on its anniversary issue’s cover.
