The State-level exhibition of art-cum-competition, organised by the Directorate of Cultural Affairs in conformity with the Bishnu Prasad Rabha birth centenary celebrations, is a fitting tribute to the legendary cultural icon, whose artistic sensibilities blossomed in all fields of creativity, making him a lyricist, singer, dancer, theatre personality and also a painter – all rolled into one.

The exhibition, like other cultural events lined up for the celebrations, was expected to conform to the scale of the occasion. It has indeed lived up to those expectations, showcasing quality works selected through a meticulous process involving the eminent Benu Misra, Noni Barpujari and Jabeen Ghosh Dastidar as members of the jury.

The exhibition, consisting of 34 paintings, eight sculptures and 10 graphics, got under way at the State Art Gallery, Rabindra Bhawan on March 23 after being formally inaugurated by folklorist Dr Birendra Nath Dutta in a well-attended inaugural ceremony.

Ten works in various categories have been chosen for awards. While these entries deserved to be awarded, the rest of the exhibits also have a class of their own, which makes the exhibition truly a must-see event.

The eight sculptures of the exhibition were all graceful works showing the deep involvement of their creators. Keshab Narzary’s The Kiss (stoneware) is a beautiful expression of love, which captivated the viewers with a profound emotional air, enhanced by the soothing tinge of green. Ratul Gogoi’s Holy Flowers is also a magnificent work carved painstakingly from wood into an imposing Shivlinga, with flowers of bronze lying scattered at the bottom. Krishna K Basumatary’s Ruin of Heritage (mixed media), which is a creative assemblage of various objects that allude to our cultural diversity, expresses the sculptor’s distress at the steady loss of heritage. Gopal Sonar’s Universe (wood) succeeds in depicting the self-contained nature of the cosmos by carving out various facets of existence in the same composition. Indrani Konwar Pathak’s Time (scrap metal) has powerful simplification – be it in the semi-circular object with five arrow-heads at the top, or the star at the bottom at the end of a stately connecting line, where the artist averts the monotony beautifully. Sujit Kr Singh’s New Generation (scrap) is also an interesting exhibit, where the smoking figure striking a hilarious posture seems to mock at the wayward generation. Hela Das displays fine simplification on her wooden sculpture Abstract to carve out an elegant feminine form.

Madhusudan Das, who excels in incorporating folk elements in his works, delights again with his woodcut Devi XIII, where the artist speaks up against violence through the revolting posture of the Goddess. Maneswar Brahma’s lithograph Unfinished Story II also says something similar, through the overbearing presence of the machine-gun, the human body grounded and tied into a pole and the swarm of gun-toting men around it.

Pronab Kr Baruah, with brilliant warm colours in his Peace Bird-I (acrylic), paints an abstract picture of the turbulent times vitiated by unrest and destruction, while the juxtaposed cooler hues seem to hint at an underlying desire for peace.

In Indrani Goswami’s award-winning entry Maturity (watercolour), a robust tree form, with a luxuriant crop of leaves, carries subtle human attributes alluding to growth and maturity. Placing it beyond the barrier and showing green pastures ahead, the work is an apt and creative portrayal of the state of being on the threshold of a new experience.

Naba Pratim Das’ Highway through the Cropfield 2 is an expression of empathy for those trampled by civilization, where the skeletal human form hints at the suffering and helplessness as the serpentine black highway treads over his body. The artist elevates his composition with deft brushwork and drawing skills. In Tikendrajit Saikia’s Untitled (oil), the melting sky, the arid earth and waiting vultures perched atop a ghostly tree point towards an impending environmental doom.

The exhibition has some technically sound watercolours, done by Abhijit Saikia (Landscape II), Bhaktipran Gogoi (Scene from Basistha), Ajit Bania (Composition) and Binod Bora (Landscape), who went on to win an award.

The exhibition will come to an end on March 29.

The award winners

Painting : Rabi Ram Brahma (3rd Way, wood-burn), Indrani Goswami (Maturity, watercolour), Pinak pani Das (The Light, acrylic), Binod Bora (Landscape, watercolour), Hrishikesh Bora (Life Insurance-II, acrylic).

Sculpture: Ratul Gogoi (Holy Flowers, wood/bronze), Keshab Narzary (The Kiss, stoneware), KK Basumatary (Ruin of Heritage, mixed)

Graphic: Madhusudan Das (Devi XIII, woodcut), Upasana Bora (Meditation, etching).

d.bezbarua@yahoo.co.in

Debashish Bezbaruah