The mastery of traditional folk artists from across the country is set to impress the state capital at a weeklong visual art camp that will be held in Bundu, around 25km from Ranchi.
The exhibition, which will bring together artists from states like Bihar, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, besides Jharkhand, is being organised by Lalit Kala Akademi, Bhubaneswar, in association with Chotanagpur Art Research and Development Society.
Although the dates have not been fixed, the organisers said the exhibition might be held in the second week of March, if not earlier.
Speaking to The Telegraph, acting secretary of Lalit Kala Akademi Ram Hari Jena said three artists from each state would showcase their paintings at the exhibition, which would provide a platform to much-neglected traditional artists.
“We have noticed a trend of art exhibitions ending up glorifying works of contemporary artists while traditional ones are pushed to the background. But our initiative will be different. Artists who have carved a niche for themselves at the state level but are yet to gain national recognition will get exposure here. Dying art forms like Madhubani, Khobar and Patachitra will be on display,” Jena said.
The Akademi is in the process of selecting the artists. “We will put up the final list of names after consulting members of the Chotanagpur arts society,” Jena said.
Secretary of Chotanagpur Art Research and Development Society Haren Thakur, also a noted painter, said they were happy to collaborate with Lalit Kala Akademi on this venture. “The camp at Bundu’s arts and crafts co-operative society will be the first of its kind, focusing primarily on traditional and dying folk art forms,” Thakur said, lamenting that local tribal artists were giving up their passion due to poverty.
Thakur recalled that a similar art camp, held around six years ago at Ranchi’s Vikas Bharti, had been a huge hit among the artists.
“Visual artists from Bhopal, Indore, Delhi and Lucknow participated in the camp and showcased dokra items,” he added.
