Lalit Kala Akademi`s first art exhibition in northeast inaugurated

Agartala: To familiarize the art fraternity of the northeast region with the national works of art of excellence, the 54th National Exhibition of Art of India`s premier fine art institution Lalit Kala Akademi was inaugurated here Monday. Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar inaugurated the 21-day national art exhibition -- the first of its kind in the region that comprises eight states. Sarkar said: "The 54th National Exhibition of Art will encourage the artists of the northeast region to gain excellence in their works." "Holding of the exhibition in Agartala is bound to generate a keen focus on a better understanding of national art aesthetics among the art fraternity of the northeast region," said K.R. Subbanna, acting chairman of the Akademi. The exhibition, which is on in the city`s Nazrul Kalakshetra Galleries, features 124 artworks, including this year`s 10 national award-winning works of as many artists. A two-tier jury chose the 10 young artists for the national award, which carries Rs.100,000 in cash, a plaque and a certificate. The award-winning artists are from Delhi (3), Maharashtra (2), Gujarat (3) and West Bengal (2). Subbanna said: "The award-winning artworks were selected from 8,047 entries by 3,185 artists from across India. Subsequently, 10 works were selected for this year`s national award." Among the artworks exhibited here, two are of Tripura-based artists and one each of artists from Assam, Meghalaya, Manipur and Mizoram. Subbanna, who has organised solo exhibitions in many countries and is a recipient of the French government scholarship under Indo-French cultural exchange programme, said: "The Akademy is committed to promote, spread and develop Indian fine art, especially in the less developed regions of the country." "The current national exhibition has already started generating exceptional support from the art community of the northeastern region." Sudhakar Sharma, secretary, Lalit Kala Akademi, said the 44th National Exhibition of Art was shifted from New Delhi to Ahmedabad many years back, and subsequently editions were held in Hyderabad, Kochi, Lucknow, Bhopal, Chandigarh, Panjim (now Panaji), Kolkata and Chennai to demonstrate its national character. The Lalit Kala Akademi or the National Academy of Fine Art functions under the union culture ministry. India`s first education minister Maulana Abul Kalam Azad inaugurated it Aug 5, 1954. IANS