Present-day Art Trend Colours of Orissa, An article by Kasturi Ray @ The New Indian Express

Krishna, in azure blue, as the commander with the timeless conch in one hand and the strength of horses and wheels in the background, summarised power. One among a series of paintings on Krishna by Baladev Moharatha, this one arrests attention at first glance. The theme, composition and concept have all the elements of a contemporary art piece that is rooted in tradition as much as in modernity. Dictated to by an inner voice, Moharatha put his creative genius into art and the piece speaks a thousand stories. Like Moharatha, there are many artists in Orissa and beyond who have given their creations their individual identity and are making that the contemporary trend. But the state has also been witness to a negative trend where many artists resort to imitation and follow the diktats of art galleries in their craze for overnight success. A state that traces its art history to traditional stone craft, temple murals, palmleaf manuscript paintings, Osakothi folk paintings and patta and palm leaf engravings and to date takes pride in it, had, at one point in time, seen the effects of the Bengal School of Art emerging as a major trend with the establishment of the Khallikote Art College in 1959.

It was in the 1960s that traces of modernism sprouted in some parts, largely due to the colonial influence. The trend continued until the 1990s after which the global contemporary style and the pan-Indian style took over most canvases. All these influences came together in diverse, eclectic, yet sustaining ways to shape the contemporary art scene of the state.While Mukunda Moharana, Raghunath Prusty, Shatrughna Karan and Dharinadhara shaped the traditional arts scene through their palm leaf engravings and patta paintings, it was Sarat Chandra Debo, Ananta Panda, Bipra Mohanty, D N Rao, Gopal Kanungo, Bipin Bihari Choudhury, Muralidhar Tali and Bimbadhar Varma who made the modern art scene extremely sprightly through paintings based on surrealism or impressionism. But it seems all is not well in the present day art scenario, with imitation finding its way into art more than originality; with the Internet proving an idea bank instead of personal experience and with financial considerations taking precedence over involvement and commitment.

Modern contemporary art brought with it a lot of scope for experimentation and provided tremendous liberty to artists. Some who did not find the state the right place to give vent to their creative urges left in search of greener pastures. But there were many veterans like Dinanath Pathy, Ramahari Jena, Baladev Moharatha and Siba Panigrahi and others who felt contemporaneity did not necessarily need an artist to sever ties with his own surroundings. “Moving out could give you a broader viewership since there are galleries galore in metros but it is the way you conceive of a subject and its analysis in detail that gives an artist’s creation its relevance. These days, Oriya artists are doing good jobs in New Delhi and their art is considered global now due to their reach but not many of them are thorough in the literary and artistic traditions of their state to give that traditional touch to their creations,” says Moharatha. To give a piece of art its Oriya identity it is imperative for an artist to know its history, art and culture and then translate it into art,” adds Moharatha.

For example, contemporary artist Jagannath Panda’s style of painting is in sync with the immediate surroundings of his home state Orissa and New Delhi, the city where he now lives. In fact, the artist whose paintings are mostly landscape-oriented, tends to draw energy from wherever he locates himself. In Panda’s work a routine event or any commonplace object is imprinted with a symbolic stature that is oriented to represent collective aspirations. He collates the best of both Western minimalist features, as well as Orissa’s folk art elements. “It’s very important for an artist to develop his or her individuality. For this, the artist needs to look inwards as much as he looks outwards and there is no point imitating someone. I would much rather be inspired by someone or some piece of creation,” says Panda. A piece of art can appeal if it is highly contemporary in style with strands of tradition ingrained in it, he adds.

Another Oriya artist, Anup Chand, also based in New Delhi, who normally paints on issues affecting society such as pollution, concrete jungles and tigers, feels the artists of Orissa are way ahead of their contemporaries in the country and abroad because of their typical Oriya touch in even the modern paintings. “Somewhere there will be a tinge which will identify an Oriya artist and his roots. And the best examples are Jagannath Panda, Alok Bal and Birendra Pani who are world renowned,” Chand adds. Chand’s pieces have glimpses of pattachitra in their decorative and simplified form and his motifs include birds, bees, animals and buildings.

Dinanath Pathy, an artist, writer and art historian explains the present trend: “These days, most paintings look alike. That is because saleability is the buzzword. Many artists settling outside follow what the galleries ask them to do as per the present demand. This stands for all artists irrespective of the fact that they belong to a particular state. So where is the scope for an artist’s own creativity? Art currently is more about going by what the stakeholders want,” says Pathy who is credited with painting innumerable masterpieces. “I call it the Bollywood syndrome,” he adds explaining that artists now want to be Page 3 celebrities. That keeps them away from painting based on their instinct backed by experience and knowledge.

However, most veterans, impervious to this state of affairs feel the present phase is transient. If Dutch post-Impressionist painter Vincent van Gogh (1853-90) survived because his heart was in art, even the present-day wavering Oriya artists will return to their roots in their paintings soon. And that will redefine the present-day art trend.
Kasturi Ray @ The New Indian Express


The Ashok Art Gallery is internationally known for one of its most important holdings: more than 2000 major works by the world's most significant Artists.Over the past years, as Ashok Art Gallery has become a major centre for contemporary visual art, the Gallery has built a strong collection of contemporary work of different artists, we became a sponsor of the STANDUP-SPEAKOUT Artshow, Organized by Art Of Living Foundation and United Nations.Organized an International Contenmporary Art Exhibition including artists from USA, The Nederlands, Pakistan and India.We have also participated at Art Expo India 2008, 09 Mumbai and India Art Summit 2008 New Delhi.

The objective of this workshop Renewed Intensity was to reach out to the urban mass in a meaningful manner, involving the public and their useful connect in Art

 

B.K.College of Art and Crafts, is an art institution that is responsible to bring innovative curriculum into art education in Odisha. Along with art education it has considerably propagated art in the state and beyond. The college is celebrating its Silver Jubilee on the completion of 25 years of its inception in the state. To commemorate this event, a national workshop on Public art and Site Specific art was curated by Jagannath Panda, alumni of the college and illustrious artists of Odisha.  

The objective of this workshop Renewed Intensity was to reach out to the urban mass in a meaningful manner. Many such attempts are made in recent years, involving the public and their useful connect in art, but here, Bhubaneswar is approached with intent to interact rather than reach out alone by artists those, in some way, relate to the situation. The approach was to evolve and propagate providing the continuum in mind to mind overplaying the skill. Renewed intensity is all about focusing on the creative passion and commitment to art by the artists, who once were trained here and practiced art in the national and international forum. They are purposefully brought back to their home (Odisha), re-inventing themselves and re-locating their art in the changed situation.             

The participants of the workshop focused on the collective ideology in expressing the content of theme in context. Paribartan Mohanty, Pratik Sagar were invited to the workshop while the BKCAC alumni was represented by Anjan Kumar Sahoo, Helen Brahma, Kanta Kishore Moharana, Nityananda Ojha, Sudarshan Biswal, Sujit Mallick, Sambit Panda and Veejayant Dash. 

Anjan Sahoo proposed a site specific work on the eternal journey: a physical transformation with help of clay pots, 108 in number, defining the sahatsra ghatak [pots] with filled water as sent that passes through to attain moksha while Nityanand presented the search for a golden bone referring to simultaneous death of two artists few years back, one at Bhubaneswar and other at Baroda. The memory and pathos were compared quite near to the rituals with incense sticks put around the grave.  

Helen Brahma intelligently dealt with a subject on woman nexalites titled `surrender’ that clearly reflected the psychological and physical torture leading to surrender of the self and the male counterpart. The happiness of the familial unity is mentioned in undertone. Kanta Kishore Moharana’s incarnation was a video projection/presentation, allowing the public to pass through the light on screen emphasizing the internal body matter reflected in projection, thereby re-inventing the human body, few subjects with designated choreography.                       

Sudarshan Biswal and Veejayant Dash performed public art on Green devastation [Rickshaw] and once there was a true respectively. Both of them caught the public attention by motivating common man through participatory dialogue. Sudarshan’s concern of conversion of farm land to growing property enclosure and the harmonic disorder found effective viewers while Veejayant had a radical and direct message. Tree or no tree, infrastructure and life, both are need of time. His concern focused on planning rather than preaching lone. A truncated tree space in form allowed the public to pass through and experience the space-form relationships. Sambit presented a chappal, common man’s footwear pressed against defined garbage, including housefly. House fly is a common fault finder and thus ignored in life. His concern of `can me follow’ seems meaningful through philosophical transformation of the subject. Sujit Mallick, a young artist was a little shy for his appearance in public was for the first time. But he carried a dynamic subject, `hati ne ghoda ne mo pehenkali bajei de’, reflecting the mood of a village shrine and its durative terracotta horse and elephants, commonly found in Orissa and inspires people to forget the communal bias that divide people.    

The guest artist Pratik Sagar has successfully experimented in site specific art in the past and his work True sad space God was just another trial in the continuity. The most interesting part lies in his in-definitive result, which increases the curiosity. He tried to definitive/predictable this time involving natural interception. Paribartana Mohanty’s imagery based on a novel titled `Dasyu’. The composition is a transformation of verbal to visual-re-looking at the city that has grown up to the day. The characters, infrastructures, mentality of city as one of the character have witnessed the change-a critical depiction.                     

The evening of 25th January was devoted to a critical discussion and presentation by artists. All the participants presented themselves through video art, art documentation in AV and announcing their concept. The artist presentation began with initiator Dr. Pradosh Mishra briefly questioning the curator of workshop Jagannath Panda about the origin of concept and its transformation in the urban context. Prof. Deba Patanik, a veteran literature and art connoisseur discussed the public and site specific art in the global context. Dr. Ramkrishna Vedala, Shri Ramhari Jena and Adwaita Gadanayak presented their views on the emerging art trends and local adaptability. The public-artist interaction was ably coordinated and initiated by Dr. Pradosh Mishra introducing the local young artists to a fresh mode.  

The young artists assisting the participants were felicitated by alumni BKCAC, while Prof. Deba Patanik did the honor. The AlumniBKCAC also handed over a contributory amount of Rs.5000/- to Shri Ashok Das(class-3 employee at B.K.Art college) who is undergoing treatment after a heart surgery. Shri Subrat Mallick, the secretary AlumniBKCAC presented the formal vote of thanks. The workshop was coordinated by Dr. Pradosh Mishra, Ashok Nayak (Ashok Art Gallery, New Delhi), Sudarsan Biswal, Veejayant Dash, and Anjan Kumar Sahoo. The workshop was supported by the Foundation for Indian Contemporary Art, Gallery Sanskriti , Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi and stage sponsored by Ashok Art Gallery, HYTONE and Immagery. The event continued from 20th to 27th January 2010 at the Lalit Kala, Regional Centre, Kharvela Nagar, Bhubaneswar.

The Ashok Art Gallery is internationally known for one of its most important holdings: more than 2000 major works by the world's most significant Artists.Over the past years, as Ashok Art Gallery has become a major centre for contemporary visual art, the Gallery has built a strong collection of contemporary work of different artists, became a sponsor of the STANDUP-SPEAKOUT Artshow, Organized by Art Of Living Foundation and United Nations.Organized an International Contenmporary Art Exhibition including artists from USA, The Nederlands, Pakistan and India.We have also participated at Art Expo India Mumbai and India Art Summit Delhi

Several aspects of creative communication were discussed with regard to literature and art, Silver Jubilee celebration of B.K.Art college a Review

B K College of Art and Crafts has completed its twenty-five years creative journey in Odisha and its existence resulted in the paradigm shift in art education and propagation both within the state and beyond. To commemorate the success, AlumniBKCAC and B.K. College of Art and Crafts are celebrating its silver Jubilee in Bhubaneswar.

The celebration begun with the inauguration of a public art and site specific art workshop, curetted by Jagannath Panda on the 20^th of January 2010. This National workshop was organized at the Lalit Kala Regional centre, Bhubaneswar along with various other public sites by the participating artists. The participating artists are Paribartan Mohanty, Prateek Sagar, Anjan kumar Sahoo, Helen Brahma, Kanta Kishor Moharana, Nityananda Ojha, Sudarshan Biswal, Sujit Mallik, Sambit Panda and Vejayant Das. This workshop would continue up to 27^th of January 2010.

The college event started with a national Symposium on Creative Communication. Prof. Kanchan Chakraverti, Art Historian from Santiniketan, inaugurated the symposium on 22^nd January 2010. Prof. Ganeswar Mishra, Prof. Sourindra Barik, Dr. Dinanath Pathy and Convened by Dr. Pradosh Mishra. Several aspects of creative communication were discussed with regard to literature and art. The participants focused on methods of communication and its relevance to art and how art needs to be communicated to the audience/viewer. The afternoon session was devoted to the audio-visual presentation by select artists like Ashish Pahi and Kanta Kishore which was coordinated by Dr. Pradosh Mishra.

On the 23^rd of January, an exhibition by the alumni of BK College of Art and Crafts was organized at the college campus on the foothills of the ancient site Khandagiri and Udayagiri. The Chief Minister of Odisha, Shri Naveen Patnaik, who not only thoroughly viewed the works, but also had an intimate dialogue with the artists, inaugurated this exhibition. Dr. Pradosh Mishra briefed the Chief Minster about the displayed art works, present state of art and trends, while Jagannath Panda explained him of the national and international issues related to art. The curator of the show, Sovan Kumar assisted the Chief Minister to release the Exhibition catalogue. Ashok Nayak accompanied the Chief Minister to the annual Art Exhibition of the College. He also felicitated the Former Principal, Kala Bhawan, Santiniketan, Prof. Kanchan Chakraverti, for his contribution to the art historical studies in the eastern subcontinent, Dr. Dinanath Pathy, the first Principal of the college and Shri Adwaita Prasad Gadanayak, President, AlumniBKCAC for collaborating to the cause of art in Odisha. In his address, he emphasized on the rich cultural and art heritage of Odisha and its application in the contemporary art, defining a new approach of continuity. He appreciated the effort of the AlumniBKCAC for the entire event.

This programme was followed by an interaction by the faculty and alumni of the college, with the students under training, under the event title, My College: My Art. Dr. Dinanath Pathy, Shri D N Rao, Shri Baladev Maharatha, Shri Ramahari Jena, Shri Siba Panigrahi, Shri Adwait Gadanaik, Shri Jagannath Panda and Shri Ashok Nayak. As a continuation to the event, many of the passed out students and participating artists showed their creative video short documentations. Both the academic sessions was coordinated and convened by Dr. Pradosh Mishra.

In the evening, His Excellency the Governor visited the exhibition hall and was accompanied by the participating artists. His keen interest in art motivated the young and dynamic students for an intimate interaction. The Governor also felicitated the Teachers and staff of the college for their valuable contribution to the art education. The Governor graced the cultural programme at the college campus at the newly prepared amphitheatre, where Sakhinata, a traditional dance form of Odisha, Odishi, the classical dance form, and Sambalpuri, another folk dance form was presented before him.

The Silver Jubilee functions were supported by Subrat Mullick, Anjan Sahoo, Tarakant Parida, Veejayant Dash, Meenaketan Patnaik, Pratap Jena, Aparna Ray, Bidyutlata Patasahani, Sangeeta Mohapatra, Ramakanta Samantray, Sangram Moharana, Sudarshan Biswal, Projesh Mohapatra, Kirti Kishor Moharana and many other well wishers of AlumniBKCAC.

The Ashok Art Gallery is internationally known for one of its most important holdings: more than 2000 major works by the world's most significant Artists.Over the past years, as Ashok Art Gallery has become a major centre for contemporary visual art, the Gallery has built a strong collection of contemporary work of different artists, became a sponsor of the STANDUP-SPEAKOUT Artshow, Organized by Art Of Living Foundation and United Nations.Organized an International Contenmporary Art Exhibition including artists from USA, The Nederlands, Pakistan and India.We have also participated at Art Expo India Mumbai and India Art Summit Delhi

‘Renewed Intensity’ is an idea to bring back serious passion and attitude towards a new art form, public and site specific art.

Renewed Intensity

On the occasion of the silver jubilee celebration of BK College of Art & Crafts, we are attempting to broaden our own horizons by re-introducing some of young and talented artists who are earlier graduates and have earned recognition. Some guest artists are also participating the event by invitation.

The city of Bhubaneswar has become a busy metropolis where both modern and traditional art and culture co-mingle. It has undergone vast developmental changes, shifting the historical & ecological map of the city in the last few years. The point here is to understand the coexistence of the past and the present.

‘Renewed Intensity’ is an idea to bring back serious passion and attitude towards a new art form, public and site specific art. Worth noting inherent in local culture lies this notion. This is first of such a workshop that we have planned: where artists will create the works with multiple approaches and u different medium, exploring art out of unconventional forms or ideas. It will also explore the possibility of varied aesthetic influences and expressions based on Interactive, Performance, Installation and so on. These artistic activates will attempt to understand inter-relationship of nature, culture, city, politics, fictional text and vital inner life. This workshop will create an environment of diverse art forms for the new viewer/audience. In these eight days, artists will produce art works in relationship between ecology and art in public spaces.

While engaged in the workshop, the participating artists will respond to collective cultural needs, developing active roles in environmental and social issues. Some artists will focus on the role of art in encouraging ecological awareness and social activism amongst local people. We sincerely hope our efforts will bring about a constructive change in the art situation in Odisha.

Jagannath Panda

Public art fits a much broader definition than art in a gallery or a museum. In simple terms, public art is any work of art or design that is created by an artist specifically to be sited in a public space. It can tower several stories high, or it can call attention to the pavement beneath your feet. It can be cast, carved, built, assembled or painted. Whatever its form, public art attracts attention. By its presence alone public art can heighten our awareness, question our assumptions, transform a landscape, or express community values, and for these reasons it can have the power, over time to transform a city’s image. Public art helps define an entire community’s identity and reveal the unique character of a specific neighborhood. It is a unifying force.

The impact of public art on a community is priceless and immeasurable and once experienced it only appreciates. Public art has the power to energize our public spaces, arouse our thinking, and transform the places where we live, work, and play into more welcoming and beautiful environments that invite interaction. It enhances the quality of life by encouraging a heightened sense of place and by introducing people to works of art that can touch them and generations to come.

Site-specific art is artwork created to exist in a certain place. Typically, the artist takes the location into account while planning and creating the artwork.

More broadly, the term is sometimes used for any work that is (more or less) permanently attached to a particular location. In this sense, a building with interesting architecture could be considered a piece of site-specific art.

In 1966 Robert Barry said:

“(site installation) is made to suit the place in which it was installed. They cannot be moved without being destroyed.”

In 1989 Richard Serra said:

“The works become part of the site and restructure both conceptually and perceptually the organization of the site.”

But later, the concept and relevance of the artwork in relation to the site have evolved.

The artwork in a specific site still explores themes and relationships with its surroundings. However its site can be moved and the artwork can still be relevant.

It’s a battle between ‘what is Public Art’ and ‘what is Site Specific Art’. The art can become site relevant in a conceptual way, yet it doesn’t have to be physically nailed to that exact place. The concept plays a big part, because it can be a very wide subject/theme, which could be relevant in many places. Most importantly it involves the viewer of the work, as they are present on this ’site’. Site Specific Art then becomes audience relevant.

But, this workshop intend not to define the meaning of the terms but more relevant to the celebration and prepare and produce work of art along with the community.

Participating Artists:

Guest:

Paribartana Mohanty (Delhi)

Prateek Sagar (Delhi)

Alumni of BKCAC:

Sujit Mallick (Delhi)

Sudarsan Biswal (Delhi)

Veejayant Dash (Bhubaneswar)

Assisted by

Satyabhama Majhi,

Samarjeet Behera,

Niroj Satpathy,

Satyajeet Das

Nityananda Ojha (Baroda)

Anjan Kumar Sahoo (Bhubaneswar)

Bujing Rao (Bhubaneswar)

Kanta Kishor Moharana(Bhubaneswar)

Assisted by

Smrutisai Mishra,

Manas Moharana,

Somnath Rout

Sambit Panda (Delhi)

Helen Brahma (Bhubaneswar)

Information:

Activity: Public Art and Site-specific Workshop

Commemorating Silver Jubilee Celebration of B.K. College of Art and Crafts (BKCAC)

Concept: “Renewed Intensity”

Date: From 20th to 27th January 2010

Artist Presentation: 25th January 2010 at 5.00 pm

Initiator: Dr. Pradosh Mishra

Chief Guest: Prof, Deba Patnaik and Dr. Dinanath Pathy

Guest of Honor: Ramakrishna Vedala,Ramahari Jena, Adewata Gadanayak

Public Display: 26th to 27th January 2010, 11am to 8pm

Venue: Lalit Kala Akademi Regional Centre, Unit III, Bhubaneswar,

Coordinators: Sudershan Biswal, Veejayant Dash, Pradosh Mishra, Ashok Nayak, Anjan Shaoo,

Curator Jagannath Panda

The Ashok Art Gallery is internationally known for one of its most important holdings: more than 2000 major works by the world's most significant Artists.Over the past years, as Ashok Art Gallery has become a major centre for contemporary visual art, the Gallery has built a strong collection of contemporary work of different artists, became a sponsor of the STANDUP-SPEAKOUT Artshow, Organized by Art Of Living Foundation and United Nations.Organized an International Contenmporary Art Exhibition including artists from USA, The Nederlands, Pakistan and India.We have also participated at Art Expo India Mumbai and India Art Summit Delhi

International Art Exhibition in India, Drawings Paintings Sculptures Prints Photographs and Installations

Ashok Art Gallery would love to invite you for our coming exhibition in Temple City Bhubaneswar, Orissa, India starting from 27th February, 2009 to 5th March 2009 timings11:00am to 8:00 pm at Lalitkala regional centre gallery, III/4, Kharavela Nagar, Unit-3 Bhubaneswar.

This exhibition is an international art exhibition including art works from USA, The Nederlands, Pakistan and India. Exhibition will show more than 100 works of 84 artists.

All Participating Artists are:

Adwaita Gadanayak,Ajay Mohanty,Amna Ilyas(Pakistan),Anjan Sahoo,Anup Kumar Chand,Anusuya Chakroborty,Aparnna Ray,Arun Kumar Jena,Ashok Nayak,Baladev Moharatha,Biswaranjan Kar,Chatrapati Biswal,Dayal Saw,Debashish Chakroborty,Debasish Mishra,Deepak Harichandan,Dharmendra Rathore,Dillip Kumar Tripathy,Dr. Sanjay Acharya,Gadadhar Ojha,Gajendra Padhi,Gajendra Prasad Sahu,Gautam Sahu,Gopal Samantray,Helen Brahma,Hukumlal Verma,Indu Tripathy,Jagannath Panda,Jagatret Dash,Jayant Das,Jiten Sahu,Kalyan Barik,Kanta Kishore Moharana,Kashinath Jena,Kirti Kishore Moharana,Lalata Kishore Pradhan,M. Sovan Kumar,Manas Maharana,Manas Pattnaik,Manoj Mohanty,Meenaketan Pattnaik,Niroj Satpathy,Nityanada Ojha,P. Bujinga Rao,Prabir Dalai,Pradeep Nayak,Pradosh Swain,Prajesh Mohapatra,Pratap Jena,Pratul Dash,Pritam Priyalochan,Purna Behera,Rakesh Ratan Nath,Ramahari Jena,Ramakanta Samantray,Ramesh Terdal,Ranjan Moharana,Ruth Oliver Millan(USA),Sajal Patra,Sangita Mohapatra,Sangram Moharana,Sanjay Bose,Sanjay Pattnaik,Santosh Routray,Satyabhama Majhi,Satyabrata Das,Satyajit Das,Seikh Hifzul,Siba Prasad Patri,Siba Prasad Sahu,Sitikant Pattnaik(tutu),Smrutisai Mishra,Somanath rout,Subra Chand,Subrat Mullick,Sujit Mallik,Sunil Bindhani,Tapan Dash,Tapan Moharana,Thea Walstra(Nederlands),Trakant Parida,Veejayant Dash,Vinod Manwani

Special Preview will be on 26th at Orissa Modern Art Gallery from 2 PM to 8 PM

The exhibition will be inaugurated by the Oriya Film Legend,Painter, actor, producer, writer, educationist Sarat Pujari on 27th February, 2009 at 6.30pm.

It would be an honour to have you on this occasion as your august presence will be a token of encouragement and love for me and will immensely enhance the dignity of the function. Look forward to receive you

Ashok Art Gallery

The Ashok Art Gallery is internationally known for one of its most important holdings: more than 2000 major works by the world's most significant Artists.Over the past years, as Ashok Art Gallery has become a major centre for contemporary visual art, the Gallery has built a strong collection of contemporary work of different artists. Last year we became a sponsor of the STANDUP-SPEAKOUT Artshow, Organized by Art Of Living Foundation and United Nations.Organized an International Contenmporary Art Exhibition including artists from USA, The Nederlands, Pakistan and India.We have also participated at Art Expo India 2008 Mumbai and India Art Summit 2008 New Delhi.

Art Education in Orissa and B.K.Art College

Art education has been a non-state affair in Orissa. While the richness of the cultural resources has attracted many artists and scholars from all over the globe to enrich their knowledge, least has been ever thought for its development by the government. In spite of all the snags the resources have inspired several intellectuals to build on it a strong foundation that could be able to carry the legacy forward.

Bibhuti Kanungo College of Art & Crafts has been a significant chapter in contemporary orissan art. Established in 1984, the BKCAC opened up new avenues for the artists to experiment and stretch their limits without being victimised by politics. The founder members of the college have responsibly delivered an environment with human ambience where artistic freedom could find an appropriate expression. The comprehensive effort of the teachers and students in the provided space, dreamt of a new world that deals with innovation and realisation. The integrated conviction has brought the BKCAC through these twenty five years; from a rented house at Kalpana Square to its own premise at Khandagiri in Bhubaneswar, from small rooms to spacious studios, from deputed teachers to permanent faculties, from town exhibitions to international exposure. In these years there have been ups and downs but the nuance and vibe of the associates has remained intact.To mark this , all the students passed from BKCAC has formed an organization AlumniBKCAC, and it will work towards upliftment and promotion of college and orissan art.

AlumniBKCAC
City Office : Plot-132 1st Floor,Forest park, Bhubaneswar-751009
Campus Office : B.K.College of Art and Crafts,Tapovana,Khandagiri
Bhubaneswar-751030 Web : http://www.alumnibkcac.org/
Ashok Art Gallery is proud to be a part of this Silver Jubilee Celebration

The Ashok Art Gallery is internationally known for one of its most important holdings: more than 2000 major works by the world's most significant Artists.Over the past years, as Ashok Art Gallery has become a major centre for contemporary visual art, the Gallery has built a strong collection of contemporary work of different artists.
Last year we became a sponsor of the STANDUP-SPEAKOUT Artshow, Organized by Art Of Living Foundation and United Nations.Organized an International Contenmporary Art Exhibition including artists from USA, The Nederlands, Pakistan and India.We have also participated at Art Expo India 2008 Mumbai and India Art Summit 2008 New Delhi.