Blooming talents help preserve Telangana art forms

In a novel measure to promote culture and heritage of newly formed Telangana state, the Department of Language and Culture, Government of Telangana, has roped in Telangana Artists & Hyderabad Art Society to organise an art camp, ‘Blooming Talents,’ to encourage artists to capture richness and nuances of Telangana life.  The camp began at Ravindra Bharati on October 8 and will conclude on October 11. 

A total of 22 budding artists have joined it to hone their talent to come with imaginative strokes symbolic of Telangana art and culture. B Venkatesham, Secretary of Tourism and Culture, who inaugurated the art camp, said the main goal of the camp was to protect and preserve the old art forms of Telangana that existed since ages. 

“We are celebrating Bathukamma festival on a grand note every year because it is a centuries-old festival and unique in worshiping nature with flowers. The State government is keen on re-exploring the Telangana culture and art. Not just the painting, but also music, theatre and other art forms are being preserved in the State.”

MV Ramana Reddy, art curator and president of Hyderabad Art Society,said,“Though there is a huge impact of technology in terms of exposing social causes through paintings, I believe that the art, which contains natural colours and the creativity of artists, will impact the contemporary social issues in an effective manner.”

Reddy said that the participants would be given all the required art material. He added that every artist would be given a different theme, particularly Telangana culture. “Compared to different types of art forms in the country, painting is badly neglected, especially in Telangana State. I wanted to bring back the glory of painting in the State,” he said. He informed that the paintings of 22 participants would be placed permanently in Ravindra Bharati for visitors.

D Sai Kiran, who has completed Bachelorsof Fine Arts (BFA)in painting from Sri Venkateswara College of Fine Arts, Hyderabad, said, “I am from a family that has been preserving the 400-year-old traditional Cheriyal Scroll Painting and masks. I am happy that the State government has given me an opportunity to show the traditional art form. I have chosen Bathukamma as my theme.”

Another participant, Vimala Maroju from Hyderabad, said that she has been painting since 2004. She completed her BFA from Telugu University and MFA (Masters) from the University of Hyderabad. Vimala said, “I believe that social issues and evils can be explored in an effective manner through paintings. There is a need to educate people on social causes, and I believe painting is the perfect platform for this. It is a great opportunity to enhance creative thinking and also exploring talent in the public domain.”

Rama Subramanyam from Ghatkesar, who completed MFA from Shantiniketan College, West Bengal, said, “I have been in the field of painting since my childhood. In the camp, I will paint on Kinnera, a Telangana folk music instrument. I will show the instrument by using natural colours in the traditional art form.”

By:Sheker Shivarathri