Paintings by Sucheta Priyabadini and Amrita Dash on display in an art gallery, inaugurated by Airports Authority of India (AAI) chairman RK Srivastava, at the new domestic terminal of Biju Patnaik International Airport in Bhubaneswar on Wednesday.

The first show at the gallery displayed 18 creations of Sucheta and Amrita. The exhibition will continue for a fortnight. After that, new works will be displayed in the gallery. The AAI will keep 10 per cent of the proceeds, while 90 per cent would go to the artists.

Sucheta's art and sculptors are based on the saga of Lord Jagannath and His siblings. "It is an interesting coincidence that when the preparations of Nabakalebar are on and the search for daru (the sacred timber) is in focus, the majority of my works based on the Lord are on display. A corporate house has booked one of my paintings titled World in My View for their private collection," said the artist.

Amrita has six of her paintings displayed at the gallery. "I hope these will attract art connoisseurs."

The art works impressed Olivia Valadie, a student from Hendrix College, Arkansas. Olivia is in the city on a student exchange programme. A student of chemical physics and environmental studies, Olivia found that the art works reflected the unique influence of Lord Jagannath on the Odia culture. She has spent three months of her 105-day stay for the programme, learning Odia culture, art and traditions as part of her studies. At present, she is studying Indian philosophy at a university in the city.

Similarly, Kareem Adams from St Mary's College of Maryland, the US, is also on a student exchange programme in the city. Kareem said: "Learning Odissi and other aspects of Odisha's art heritage such as pattachitra will be an experience of a lifetime." Kareem is a student of international relations and political science at St Mary's College of Maryland and now studying law at a university in the city.

Today, Olivia and Kareem were at the airport to encourage Sucheta, their teacher, who has seven paintings and five sculptures of her displayed at the gallery. She works as a director of students' service at KIIT university and also teaches Indian philosophy.

Art historian Dinanath Pathy said: "More works from other artists should also be displayed here after scrutiny."

While Sucheta's art works are priced between Rs 10,000 and 30,000, Amrita's works are in the range between Rs 8,000 and Rs 25,000.

Airport director Sharad Kumar hoped that the gallery would help young artists to showcase their works for a selective group of audience.

Text by Bibhuti Barik
Picture by Sanjib Mukherjee