File picture of a traditional palm leaf painting artist in Raghurajpur

Bhubaneswar, June 25: Exhibitions and camps for contemporary art and artists may have become a regular affair in the state, but traditional artists hardly get to interact with each other because of an absence of a forum.

For the first time, the Odisha Lalit Kala Akademi is organising a workshop and camp exclusively for traditional artists to help them understand the current scenario of these art forms.

The camp, which begins from Wednesday at the famous Raghurajpur crafts village, will feature 30 artists from over 10 districts of the state, including many from Puri, Khurda, Nayagarh, Ganjam, Gajapati, Angul, Jagatsinghpur and Cuttack.

The five-day camp will include an array of traditional art forms that will be created by the artists. Discussions will also be held everyday about the requisite changes for development and sustenance of the art forms where all the participating artists will interact.

“Traditional artists of different districts hardly get to meet each other, except for craft fairs. So, we planned to bring them together to exchange ideas and understand the need of the hour or develop plans that can help the art forms evolve and grow,” said Siba Panigrahi, veteran painter and president of the Akademi.

Many traditional art forms on the verge of extinction have been included in the event in an effort to save them.

“We have taken this step to conserve art forms that are fading. Until the artists of the dying art forms meet, it is impossible to save them,” said Rabi Rath, secretary of the Akademi.

The different art forms to be included in the camp are palm leaf painting, painting on tussar cloth, patta painting, dying art form jatri patti painting. All these art forms have lost their exponents in the last couple of years.

Ganjapa, which is a set of 165 cards that look like circular tarot cards with traditional paintings, was once a popular game for royals. However, now it is in an urgent need for conservation. This form of art is also a part of the camp.

“The expert artists of the different art forms will demonstrate and train other artists so that all get a share of knowledge in these traditional art forms. We hope that will help the survival of the dying art forms,” said Rath.

On the final day of the camp, an exhibition of the works created by the participating artists will be organised at the venue.

Also, only natural colours will be used in all art works, the preparation of which will be shown by veteran colour maker and artist, Kshetramani Moharana of Raghurajpur. Among the demonstrators are well-known veteran artists such as Ananta Moharana, Binod Moharana, Sridhar Moharana and Jagannath Mohapatra.