Are you an art connoisseur? Want to see how a rock/boulder turns into a magnificent piece of art, them head to Kalamandira, the venue of sculptors’ camp, where a group of sculptors are busy giving a shape to the boulders.
A score of sculptors from various parts of the state are creating attractive pieces of contemporary and traditional art works at the camp jointly organised by Lalithakala Academy, Shilpakala Academy and Dasara Fine Arts and Crafts sub-committee, as part of Mysuru Dasara.
Traditional art works, including ‘Kambodhbava Narasimha’, Hoysala-style ‘Shiva’, Naga-style ‘Kalikadevi and ‘Veerabhadra’ in Kalyana Chalukya style and contemporary art works like ‘an artiste in a rabbit mask’, ‘face of a man and woman with a music instrument’ among others catch the attention of the visitors.
As many as 15 sculptors from Mysuru, Mandya, Dakshina Kannada, Bagalkot, Raichur and other places are busy carving attractive art works for the past one week, and the camp will end on October 6.
The event is organised to popularise sculpture, traditional art forms, and to showcase the efforts of the sculptors, who carve these articles. The visitors can see how the sculptors give attractive shape to a rock.
Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) Commissioner Dr M Mahesh, also deputy special officer of Dasara Fine Arts and Crafts sub-committee said, the works will be kept on display on the premises of Kalamandira and at other government offices. The committee has provided the stones and wood to the artistes to create different forms of art, the commissioner said.
Deputy Commissioner D Randeep, also Dasara Special Officer, said, the Dasara committee will try to organise such events in a big way and also try to rope in national and international artisans in future. The DC said, the event definitely promotes sculpture and motivates artisans, apart from making the people understand the efforts of sculptors behind each beautiful work.
K J Deepak Kumar from Pandavapura in Mandya district, who was carving a modern art work ‘an artiste wearing rabbit mask’ said, his work mirrors the relationship between visual artistes and viewers.
“As my work will be placed on the premises of Kalamandira, I planned a relevant work which is suitable for the place,” said Deepak.
Another nationally accredited sculptor S Manjunatha Acharya said, art is inevitable to protect civilisation. But, in recent years, the scope for/of traditional arts is declining. He said, due to unavailability of materials including stones and lack of promotional activities, artisans are not getting an opportunity to showcase their talent.
Acharya, a sculptor, said, “In olden days, we used to spend only Rs 200 on a piece of high quality stone, but, now even if we pay Rs 8,000, they are hardly available.
‘Soap stone’ or ‘neela shile’ and ‘pacche shile’ are good for art works. They are available only at a few places — H D Kote in Mysuru district, Moodabidri in Dakshina Kannada district and in Bagalkot — in the state. With the use of modern technologies, now, it is possible to carve magnificent works out of marble, granite and other stones,” he added.
DH News Service
source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> District / by Ranjith Kandya / DHNS – Mysuru, October 04th, 2016