Aimed at taking art to the masses, a novel exhibition titled “Towards a new viewership / audience” is under way at Art Konsult in Hauz Khas Village here.
A non-government organisation, Bakul Foundation – “a people’s movement for volunteerism” – has put together the Delhi edition of Bakul Art Fest-2009.
The show has been curated by Rajashree Biswal and organised jointly by Bakul Foundation and “Art and Deal”, an art magazine which is celebrating its tenth anniversary through this show.
The exhibition features artists such as Rajendra Kapse, Debraj Goswami, Manjunath Kamath, Sharmila Samant and the focus is on the best of contemporary art from Orissa with artists like Birendra Pani, Pratul Dash, Alok Bal and Tapan Dash.
The exhibition has travelled from Bhubaneswar, where it was held in January this year. “These eminent artists had come together for a cause of taking the best of art away from the metropolitan art world, to which it was often limited, to non-metropolitan areas and to non-regular viewers. It was an attempt to create a new and wider audience for art,” says Bakul Foundation founder Sujit Mahapatra.
“We have organised this art exhibition as part of our attempt to create a sensitive visual culture. Bakul is a movement for volunteerism in India starting with the State of Orissa. As a first initiative, we mobilised over 1,000 individuals to contribute to set up a children’s library in Bhubaneswar. Bakul was set up as a platform where people can come together to bring about the change that they want,” he added.
A part of the proceeds from this show in the Capital will go to Bakul Foundation’s work in promoting reading and the arts in Orissa.
The exhibition is open for viewing up to September 13.