The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Madurai News : `Painting, a medium to exhibit people's lifestyle'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Nov 22, 2004

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Madurai

`Painting, a medium to exhibit people's lifestyle'

By Our Staff Reporter

MADURAI, NOV.21. All art forms have been an integral part in the life and culture of Tamils, the Speaker, K. Kalimuthu, has said.

Speaking at an award distribution function for artistes of different art forms organised by the Department of Art and Culture in association with the South Zone Cultural Centre and the District Art Centre here today, he said music and painting were the two key art forms that were more closely associated with the life of the people.

If singing songs was used as a proactive way to forget burden, painting was used as a medium to exhibit the lifestyle of people.

Realising this importance of the art forms in the life and culture of Tamils, Mr. Kalimuthu said the Government had also been initiating several steps to promote the forms and improve the lifestyle of artistes.

Any artiste could excel only if his talents were recognised. Hence, the Government was distributing awards to outstanding performers, which was a morale booster to the artistes, he said.

The Speaker, who earlier inaugurated a painting exhibition on Chettinadu style of building construction, said houses in Chettinadu were symbols of our traditional construction.

He suggested that the house owners were staying in other countries and the buildings were lying unused. Such buildings could be converted into hotels, so that tourists would get a chance to stay in these buildings and to see the traditional style of construction as well.

The Collector, D. Raajendiran, in his presidential address, said Madurai had always played an important role in promoting various art forms, which have been an essential part of the life and culture of Tamils.

Even the Kings Pandyas, Cheras and Cholas made their contribution to patronise the art forms. The beautiful and attractive paintings found in the temples, constructed during the monarchy period, were a testimony to this, he said, and added that the `Ramayanam' had been portrayed in Alagarmalai, instances in Tiruvilayadal could be found in the Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple and the `Kandapuranam' in the Sivan Temple at Natham Kovilpatti.

Listing out the schemes extended by the Government to artistes, particularly those belonging to the folk forms, he said that the artistes were being given chance to present programmes in other states and abroad as well.

The Collector assured that the welfare measures initiated by the Government would continue in future also in the interest of the artistes. These programmes not only benefited the artistes but also helped to popularise the folk art forms of the State across the globe.

Later, the Speaker gave away awards to outstanding artistes of different fields.

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