An artist at the Srimanta Sankardev Kalakshetra on Sunday. Picture by UB Photos

Jan. 18: Artistes representing different domains of art congregated at Srimanta Sankardev Kalakshetra today to take part in a unique meet.

Painters, actors, directors, musicians, photographers and theatre personalities participated in the open forum at the Rang Ghar Bakori on the Kalakshetra premises.

Spread over a sprawling campus of 10.28 hectares in the Panjabari area of the city, Kalakshetra is the nerve centre of culture in the entire Northeast.

“It was a common meeting ground for all of them in an informal ambience. They talked about themselves, shared their experiences and came up with positive ideas about their art and craft,” Kalakshetra secretary Gautam Sarma said.

Over 500 artistes had been invited to participate in the meet, which was conducted by actress Moloya Goswami and Ashim Kazi of the All India Radio, Guwahati. Minister of state for culture Pranati Phukan and noted lyricist Lakhyahira Das and artist Shobha Brahma spoke on the occasion.

“Both young and old artistes interacted with each other. Some sang songs and some recited poems. Some of the artistes also did some impromptu painting and expressed themselves through colours,” Sarma said.

Veteran lyricist Tafazzul Ali said, “The meet has helped bring the artiste fraternity together. We hope more such meets are organised.” Sarma, however, was cautious about the possibility of the meet being turned into a platform to air grievances. “We do not want them to discuss their grievances here. We want them to share their views as an artiste with another artiste,” he had said.

Kalakshetra has been celebrating a 17-day New Year festival. The main attractions of the festival were art-sculpture exhibitions featuring more than 100 painters and sculptors of the state. One item stealing the show was the first sculpture of artist Noni Borpujari.

A cultural programme was organised on the concluding day on January 17, which is observed as Shilpi Divas to commemorate the death anniversary of Rupkonwar Jyotiprasad Agarwalla.

Hasina Hazarika and Bipul Barua performed Rupkonwar’s songs. Bedabati Borgohain presented melodious tunes of Jyoti Sangeet on the Hawaiian guitar. Pragati Shilpi Sangha of Uzanbazar presented a dance drama on the maestro’s life.