Art conference organised in tribute to coastal culture

Folklorist and writer Prof B A Viveka Rai said any work of art should have an identity. The identity of the concept becomes very strong when one can communicate the same concept with other identity groups.

He was speaking after inaugurating the two-day national seminar on ‘Indian Art and Art History’ funded by Indian Council of Historical Research is organised by the Centre for Creative and Cultural Studies, Manipal University. Rai said pluralism and multiculturalism is prevalent in this region because of the diverse, vibrant and dynamic nature of Dakshina Kannada and the intercommunication between the people of this culture and traditions.

Gandhian and Peace Studies director Prof Varadesh Hiregange said, at a conceptual level, the seminar is an attempt to sharpen the focus on the coastal cultures and also their art forms in a diverse multicultural university like Manipal. It is also an attempt to look at certain art forms at this point in time and make some kind of critical evaluation against the historical background, he added.

The conference proceedings and catalogues on the art exhibition was released. The second batch of the art appreciation course, consisting of 60 students from the Engineering and the Commerce Departments, was launched on the occasion.

The aim of the conference is to analyse, debate and research the Indian art and art-based historical practices with a concern over coastal culture and Art practices. The seminar will also reveal the reactions and reflections of Indian artistes to their regional concerns. A special art exhibition titled ‘Chitrakaravali: A Tribute to Karavali Art and Culture’ is organised as part of the national seminar. The two-day exhibition features a selection of artworks by five senior artistes, which include the art works of Peter Lewis, Ramesh Rao, Merlin Raskina, K Laxman Bhat and Ganesha Somayaji. There are, in all, seven paintings and two miniature sculptures displayed on the occasion.