Paintings on display at exhibition Shraddhanjali at Rashtriya Lalit Kala Kendra in Bhubaneswar. Pictures by Ashwinee Pati

Bhubaneswar, July 8: An array of 94 artworks dedicated to painter and art educator, the late Byomakesh Mohanty will be showcased at Ravenshaw University Art Gallery in Cuttack from July 9 to 14.

The unique pieces of art, put together by Mohanty’s contemporaries and students, have already earned rave reviews at Shraddhanjali, a five-day exhibition at the Rashtriya Lalit Kala Kendra here which concluded on Friday.

An undertone of Mohanty’s profound influence on his students was reflected in the exhibits. Canvases with bright and bold hues with abstract elements, just the way Mohanty liked to go about with his paintbrush, made his presence felt in the gallery.

Amongst the diverse ensemble, painter Lalatendu Rath’s meditating Buddha in the midst of nature grabbed eyeballs. The smile on Buddha’s face with muted colours of blue and green served as a perfect background.

Budding artist Sarit Acharya’s abstract art portraying the evil side of nature was also another unique composition. Mohanty, often hailed as the harbinger of abstract artworks and collaborative workshops in the state, opened up a new avenue of art form never experimented before. His sudden death two years ago came as a huge blow to art enthusiasts across Odisha.

Shilpee Mohapatra, a promising young artist from Hyderabad, displayed a painting on city skylines that had certain mystic features. She deftly worked upon the colours – yellow, blue, green and violet – that made a simple concept seem attractive.

“Mohanty loved paintings that are realistic yet inventive. He had this uncanny flair for merging these two forms very beautifully and effectively. He was always game for field works – something that was not very prevalent here before,” said artist Meenaketan Pattnaik.

Renowned artists such as Baladev Maharatha, Chadramauni Biswal, Bansidhar Prashan, D. Narayan Rao and D.P. Mohanty, were among those who paid tribute to Mohanty through their paintings.

“Mohanty sir taught us to love what we do, be proud of our art and to perceive the world in a different light in which the real and abstract worlds meet. His teachings have helped bring out our creativity,” said Mohanty’s student, Chandan Kumar Samaland, whose sculpture on stones has received nationwide appreciation.