226 art works on display as art exhibition opens at Art gallery

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, November 21

In a rare treat for the city residents, 226 pieces of paintings from across the country are being displayed for the 15-day long 81st All-India Art Exhibition, which was opened at the local Indian Academy of Fine Arts (IAFA). The exhibition was inaugurated by Deputy Commissioner Ravi Bhagat in the presence of Indian Acadmy of Fine Arts President Rajinder Mohan Singh Chhina, who said the exhibition provides an opportunity to the budding artists to make their art work public.

The art works ranging from landscape, portrait, life sketches, spiritual experiences and modern art are on the display. Chhina said they received high-class art works from 200 artists from all over India, ranging from J&K to Tamil Nadu and Assam to Gujarat. ``Out of a total of 330 art pieces, 226 have been selected for display and the same work has been included in the catalogue being published’’, said he. The catalogue containing details of the paintings was also released.

The art display also includes paintings, photographs, sculptures, drawings and graphics, to promote the new media and will also have some senior artists interacting with the visitors over the period of the exhibition. The art gallery has been organising the exhibition as an annual feature at the gallery since 1932. A colourful cultural programme with the Sufi music also marked the occasion. At least nine artists, including Mukesh Togaria from Haridwar and Kaveri Arora from Amritsar, were each given Rs 21,000 cash prizes while 12 others got certificates of appreciation.

Chhina hailed the artists as a prominent part of the civilised human life and said they provide meaning to our daily life. He said IAFA’s continued efforts to promote art received a major boost through this exhibition.

“The art works on diverse subjects had been invited and artists from across the country are featured in the exhibition. Every year, we ensure that only the best of works end up on that wall and we get a good footfall for this annual edition.” This time the exhibition will run into December and also host artists to share their creative process with art patrons.

Others present included Tarundeep Kaur, Deputy Commisisoner, Income Tax, Mohinderjit Singh, PS Grover, AS Chamak. Tejinder Chhina and Ajmer Singh Heir.