Artistic feast at Chitramayee

The endeavour of the 29th National Exhibition of Contemporary Art that was inaugurated at Chitramayee State Gallery of Art on Friday is to bring artistes from India on a common platform to share and network with one another. This will also help in understanding the aesthetics and practices prevalent all over.

The ten-day exhibition was inaugurated by Youth Affairs Minister Azmeera Chandulal. Eminent art consultant Sushma K Bahl, who has authored an authoritative ‘5000 Years of Indian Art’, and is here as the curator, stated, “As a curator, this is a big challenge for somebody like me because you don’t know what you are getting even though it was mandated that only works that are two-year old will be allowed for display and participation.

However, a closer scrutiny is essential for the emotion that goes behind each workmanship.”“We received 2,000 entries from 801 artistes. The first of two-tiered jury short-listed it to 229. These works by 232 artistes were further reduced to 20 that are eligible for awards.”

The inauguration was followed by a panel discussion that had participation of celebrities like Anjolie Ela Menon, N N Rimzon and Prof Rini Dhumal. Apart from art show, there will be an exhibition of art books and cultural programmes. The paintings and sculptures will be on display till March 27.