SYED ALI SAFVI
SRINAGAR, Sep Oct 1: Srinagar’s Tagore Hall was Thursday thronged by art buffs to get a glimpse into the creative world of artists. Hundreds of art lovers had come from different parts of the country to witness the inauguration of 45th annual state art exhibition, being organised by Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art Culture and Languages.
The exhibition was inaugurated by Minister for Finance, Abdul Rahim Rather.
An otherwise decaying Tagore Hall was today decked with splendid art works of highest standard.
A wide range of art works by eminent artists like MA Mahboob, Rohit Verma, Gurpreet Kaur et al, and budding student artists like Hilal Ahmad Khan Varun Kumar, Verma Kanchan, and others have been put on display.
The art works being showcased in the exhibition include paintings, wood and stone sculptures. The artists have worked on different themes and tried to portray it onto canvas in best possible manner.
Every artist has an inimitable, characteristic style, and their works reflected the same. AIFACS award winner and an eminent artist of the state, Rohit Verma’s oil on canvas painting to depict ‘mystic realm’ was exquisite. Veteran artist, MA Mahboob’s, who is also referred to as J&K’s MF Hussain, ‘portrait of tragedy’ was real treat for eyes.
Gurpreet Kaur’s wood sculpture ‘sharing the shelter’ portrays the present situation of J&K. She has used combination of wood and bronze in her work.
“Despite trials and tribulations, people of J&K are always ready to help each other,” she said. “I have used wood and bronze which represent softness and hardness. It means we are hard enough to face any hardship and soft enough to share each other’s sufferings.”
The work if Hilal Ahmad Khan, student of Fine Arts College Srinagar, who hails from Pattan, stairs straight into the face. His work ‘Build the Love’ using poster colour on paper stresses the need to shun animosity and bridge the divide.
“My theme was ‘build the love’. When I was preparing the surface prior to painting, the India and Pakistan’s animosity came to my mind and I decided to work on that,” he said. “I have tried to communicate, via this painting, how we can help in building a better world by bridging the divide that we have created.”
Speaking at a function after inaugurating the three-day art exhibition, Abdul Rahim Rather said that if he retires from politics he would love to contribute to the world of literature.
“Not long ago, I decided to take retirement from politics, but the people I represent and my leaders did not allow me to retire then,” he said. “Though I don’t claim to be a scholar, but I always wanted to contribute to the field of state’s literature in whatever capacity I could.”
Rather said the government would extend all possible help to the academy and would protect its constitutional safeguards.
Rather also urged the academy to organize Abdul Ahad Azad memorial day.
He said that the academy should continue to hone the talent of budding artists so that they highlight the beauty of J&K in their art work to popularise the state as a seat of artistic excellence besides promoting tourism through this medium.
Earlier, Rather also distributed awards among the award winning artists.
The awardees included Rohit Verma and Gurpreet Kour under senior category; Hilal Ahmed Khan and Varun Kuman under student category. The Award carries Rs 51000, a citation, a memento, and a shawl.
Certificate of Merit under senior artists and student category were awarded to Aslam Naqshbandi, Amit Singh Salathia, Gayoor Hussain, Kanchan Verma, Surjeet Singh Kukal, Anish Tikoo, Narinder Kumar and Renu.
Earlier, in his welcome address, Secretary Cultural Academy Zaffar Iqbal Manhas said that the academy would be organizing folk festival in Kashmir before the annual Darbar move.
Manhas also presented a resume of the activities organized by the Academy to promote various languages, literature and culture.
Manhas said that the academy has decided to adopt the children of those who were associated with Kashmir’s folklores Dhambali and Bhand pather in order to keep this traditional form of folk dance alive.
“These folklores have wider acceptance all over India,” he said.
He sought an active support of the government and urged the Finance Minister to help out the academy in its endeavour to promote art, and culture.
Deputy Commisioner Srinagar, Additional Secretary, Cultural Academy Shamim Akhter, and Principal, Institute of Music and Fine Arts, Shaiqa Mohi were also present on the occasion.
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