'Artrends' of 60s, 70s revived

The journal that was an initiative of the Madras-based Progressive Painters’ Association in 1961 had set trends in national and international arts for the next two decades. The issues, compiled and published by Lalith Kala Academy, were released by playwright Girish Karnad.

He said the journal was launched in the post-Indepenence period when exploring “Indianness” was a challenge for both painters and theatre artistes. They relied on folk arts in their search for identity, he added. The journal also bro­ught to the fore eminent artists and opened dialogue among different schools of art, he said.

Senior artist S G Vasudev said the artists have continued to face challenges even to this day, but they could find better solution from the examples of their predecessors. “The journal, in a span of two decades, introduced more than 200 artists and assumed significance in the study of art,” he said.