Bookshelf 8212; Sudarshan Shetty

Sculptor Sudarshan Shetty, who is cagey about giving a definition to his profession, is almost equally unwilling to set down names of books which he really likes. quot;Let8217;s not do it number one, number two wise,quot; he decides. The first name which comes to his mind then is Director Robert Bresson8217;s Notes on Cinematography. Shetty loves Bresson8217;s unconventional approach to film-making which he finds reflected in his own work. A book he really loves is Sharmistha Mohanty8217;s Book One. quot;It is non-narrative and doesn8217;t run in a stream. It is like an extension of her own life,quot; he says. The fact that Mohanty is a good friend, and that he saw the book coming together, also enhanced his appreciation. The next two books he talks about are by Japanese authors a connection which will deepen soon as his work will be exhibited by the Japanese Foundation in the country over the next two months. One Straw Revolution by Fukuoka, a scientist who walked out of urban life and devoted his life to promotingnatural 8212; instead of chemical farming 8212; impressed him a lot. quot;It is much larger than just farming. It is a philosophy of life,quot; he says. And In Praise of Shadows, the author8217;s name slips his mind, is about Japanese architecture and aesthetics. Again what appealed to Shetty was the subtext on the right use of things and the roles that light and earth should play in our lives. quot;It is a brilliant book,quot; he says, adding, quot;That is four. Isn8217;t that enough?quot;