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State-level painting contest and expo opens

Correspondent

The event held by Dhauli College of Art and Crafts is aimed at tapping latent talent

BHUBANESWAR: In a move to tap hidden talent at the grassroots level and throw light on career prospects for fine arts, city-based Dhauli College of Art and Crafts has inaugurated the annual State-level painting competition and exhibition. Just into its second edition, it has even received rave response from participants from outside the State.

"Common people have a misconception about fine arts as a career. They are not aware of several avenues available for talented and trained artists. We, therefore, have decided to encourage parents by holding exhibitions of works of their children at the State capital, where they are invited and awarded as well. Catching them young has been our mission," explained college principal Panchanan Samal.

Good response

The talent-hunt competition was held in four age groups - from 6 to 25. "With the help of our students and different art schools in the State, we have invited entries from aspiring artists.

We have received 325 entries, which have been examined by noted artist Ashim Basu and Orissa Modern Art Gallery director Tarakant Parida. They have recommended 216 works for display.

They have also selected 41 artists in the four categories for the awards that carried certificates and attractive cash prizes," informed Mr. Samal.

"We are quite encouraged as we have received entries from far off places like Koraput, Hirakud and Bargarh besides some towns in Bihar, Manipur and Maharashtra," he added.

Satya Ranjan Sahoo (Sambalpur), Sukanti Nanda (Bhubaneswar), Suraj Das (Bhubaneswar) and Prajna Sahoo (Bhubaneswar) emerged as the best artists in the four groups, respectively.

"It is an Herculean task the college authorities have handled so well and this will go a long way in spreading art education and awareness in remote areas," observed Orissa Lalit Kala Akademi president Jagadish Kanungo, who inaugurated the five-day exhibition at the Orissa Modern Art Gallery.

"Many of the participants have immense potentialities. If groomed well, they can emerge as successful artists," he noted.

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