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| A site for the art gallery near Khandagiri in Bhubaneswar. Picture by Sanjib Mukherjee |
Bhubaneswar, Sept. 8: The state culture department is all set to set up two art galleries in the city. However, after years of only promises, not many from the art fraternity seem to have faith in the department’s plans.
The art galleries have been planned at two sites — Sanskriti Bhawan near Kalpana Square and the tourism complex of the culture department at Khandagiri. While Sanskriti Bhawan, a three-storeyed structure, would have different galleries on each floor, the Khandagiri gallery would house six different halls for art display, said state culture secretary Ashok Tripathy.
“Since the old Sanskriti Bhawan building has been lying vacant for years, we have planned to renovate it into an art gallery. The ground floor will have a conference hall for art workshops and talks apart from a gallery to hold exhibitions and sale. This gallery will be rented out at a subsidised rate. On the first and second floor, we will exhibit the collections of works by eminent Oriya artists owned by Orissa Lalit Kala Akademi and state museum,” said Tripathy.
Students of the B.K. College of Art and Crafts would use two of the six halls at the Khandagiri gallery for display and sale purpose, he said.
Architect S.S. Ray is designing the galleries. “I have already submitted the model wherein the physically challenged can easily access the sites. The design awaits the government approval,” said Ray.
While officials of the state culture department said the art galleries — to be set up for around Rs 4 crore — will be ready in about six months time, artists seem to be sceptical about the proposed project.
“I have been managing the Orissa Modern Art Gallery for over 10 years without any government support. I had suggested the culture department to allow me to use the old Sanskriti Bhawan building as the gallery, since it had been lying unused for years and I have to pay heavy rent for my gallery. Moreover, I had sought the department’s help to support the gallery, but they never responded. If the department is not capable of supporting one existing gallery, how can we believe that they will come up with so many galleries,” said artist Tarakant Parida.
Veteran artist and former president of the Central Lalit Kala Akademi Dinanath Pathy said he was doubtful about these projects.
“Artists of the state have been demanding a proper art gallery for years. Apart from one or two private art galleries, there has never been a facility, where artists can display their works permanently. The government proposed an ambitious project of Kala Nagar in 2005-06. Some work had also begun at the proposed site at Gajapati Nagar. But, it all turned out to be a waste of money and energy,” said Pathy.
“The Orissa Lalit Kala Akademi does not even have its own office. With such lack of focus, I really do not believe anything can materialise in this direction,” he said.