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Witness the beauty of Cheriyal masks at the Art in Life exhibition

CIMA’s annual lifestyle event is reviving interest in this fading craft from Andhra Pradesh

Kolkata’s most anticipated annual lifestyle exhibition — Art in Life, organised by CIMA Gallery — is now in full swing. While it offers something for everyone like textiles, bags, shoes, art, saris and home décor — of special interest to enthusiasts of tribal craftwork are the Cheriyal masks on display. “Cheriyal masks are based on characters from ancient mythology as well as local folklore,” said Rakhi Sarkar, director of CIMA. “Cheriyal art was once popular across Andhra Pradesh, but is now almost exclusively practiced in Cheriyal village, because of the declining status of performing artistes.”

Once life-sized, the masks are now used as decorative objects. At Art in Life, the aim is to revive interest in this exquisite but fading art form so that its legacy lives on. If you’re a tribal art lover, go check out the masks — and more — now!

Date: Art in Life is on till October 9

Time: 11 am to 8 pm

Address: CIMA, 2nd Floor, Sunny Towers, 43, Ashutosh Chowdhury Ave, Ballygunge, Kolkata, West Bengal 700019

— Nayantara Mazumder