Paintings on king Kharavela displayed at an art exhibition at Ravenshaw University on Tuesday. Picture by Badrika Nath Das

Cuttack, Feb. 18: Defaced engravings of the Udaygiri caves are being replicated in 30 paintings at a unique art exhibition that was inaugurated at Ravenshaw University here on Tuesday.

The paintings depict the life history of the gallant king Kharavela at the art gallery of the premier educational institution.

Art lovers, students and historians have appreciated veteran artist Syamsunder Patnaik’s magnificent work on the ruler, who was considered as a king of benevolence, prosperity and bliss.

Born in 1935 in Athagarh, Patnaik has been working on recreating the history with his paintings that depicts events from the life of king Kharavela originally engraved in the Udaygiri caves.

“The character of king Kharavela, his life till his second marriage and other important events have been depicted in the paintings, while the original engravings have also been displayed at the exhibition,” said Patnaik.

Patnaik said that the entire life of king Kharavela has been represented in two forms — first one being the stone inscription in Brahmi script on Hatigumpha, while the second is the visual art presentation on the cave walls of Rani Gumpha, Ganesh Gumpha, Jaya Vijaya Gumpha and Alakapuri Gumpha at Udaygiri.

“There is confusion in identification of personality and events engraved as most projected episodes are mutilated and disfigured. And many historians as well as art lovers can now easily have a true glimpse of the characters and subsequent events of king Kharavela,” said Supriya Muduli, a visitor.

Moreover, the artist has used natural colours prepared from various stones, including red ochre, yellow ochre, chalkstone and lamp black.

According to the artist, it took him nearly seven to eight days to prepare a single colour, which were extensively being used for primitive paintings and other cave paintings such as Ajanta and Ellora caves.

Besides the paintings, various retrospective sculptures of Pattnaik have also been displayed at the exhibition, which has been organised by Cuttack District Council and Ravenshaw University.

“The artist through his painting has recreated the character of king Kharavela, who is the legendary figure of Odisha’s history,” said collector Girish S.N.