Lalit Gupta
JAMMU, Mar 1: The pitiable maintenance of Kala Kendra came under heavy criticism from artists’ community as well as spectators, who rued the lack of basic amenities like electricity and water at the so-called State’s premier art complex touted to nurture and showcase creative expressions of visual and performing artists in the region and also a tourist destination in the winter capital.
The issue of lack of proper up-keeping of Kala Kendra was raised at the opening of three-day exhibition of Rajinder Pal Singh’s creative paintings before Minister of Planning and Development Ajay Sadhotra, who was the chief guest of the function, here today. Padamshree Balwant Thakur was the guest of honour while Sunil Verma, District Secretary of National Conference and President of Industries Udhampur, was the special invitee on the occasion.
The exhibition titled ‘Native Vibrations’ which has 20 canvasses on display is the first solo show of the young painter who hails from a remote village of Reasi district. The latest semi-abstract paintings of academically trained artist who has participated in many State and national exhibitions, camps—in total contrast to his initial works done in figurative idiom—are artistic renderings of the memories of images having roots in native folk expressions of paintings, dance and rituals along with sights that he confronts in day to day city life.
The works done in Acrylic medium are marked with application of abstract-expressionistic techniques such as dripping and throwing of paint where artist’s mind and gestural brush strokes work in unison to give form to free play of artistic imagination that appears as a symphony in golden, yellow, brown and red hues.
Referring to poor the maintenance of Kala Kendra, Ajay Sadohtra assured the artists that he would take up the matter with the minster of culture for an early redressal of the issues relating to Kala Kendra’s proper up-keep. He reiterated State Government’s commitment to provide conducive atmosphere and proper infrastructure for the development of art and culture in the State. Balwant Thakur and Sunil Verma also spoke on the occasion. Today’s function attended by number of artists, art students and lovers of art was conducted by Akram Khan.
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