Being a city steeped in culture, Mangalore has its own art fraternity with more than 50 artists, and a growing appreciating audience. Almost every month, on an average, an exhibition-cum-sale of paintings is held in the city.
The stamp of the coast is evident in the work of many artists from the region. So, Yakshagana figures, “Bhoothakola”, “Kambla”, “mosaru kudike”, “gummat”, coconut trees, fisherwomen, and fish market do appear in the paintings of many of the artists from the region.
Yet, there is no school (form) of art in Dakshina Kannada. Artist John Chandran said: “That is because all their energies were put into other forms of art such as Yakshagana.”
But lack of school has not meant that there is lack of talent. William Pais, Director, Orchid Art Gallery, said: “It is due to lack of patronage, and artists moving away to other metros for better opportunities.” Other than the established and upcoming artists, the city's schoolchildren have also been seen carving a niche for themselves in nation-wide art competitions. One such recent event was the Google Doodle contest, where artwork from Mangalore students have been winning, or getting close to winning.
It is the same with a bunch of talented young artists from Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts whose paintings are bought by art investors in Mumbai and Delhi. While their art is bought, one artist said that he never got to know who actually bought their paintings finally, something that he has reconciled himself to. This is deliberate, so that a direct relationship between the artist and the buyer is never established.
According to Sapna Noronha, a Mangalore-based artist, there has been growing interest among the people of Mangalore in art. However, there is no government art gallery in the city. Artists have been requesting for an art gallery in the city at various fora.
Veena Srinivas, another Mangalore-based artist, whose work is inspired by the maroon-and-red hued “kavi kale” found within the Konkani temples of Dakshina Kannada, also seconded the thought that the city needs an art gallery. Meanwhile, art is being marketed in the city in innovative ways. An instance of a novel way of attracting the attention of potential art buyers is the office of the State Bank of India (Bunder branch) in the city. Similarly, at least one restaurant on K.S. Rao Road displays paintings with discreet price tags for those who appreciate them enough to want to buy them.
However, not all in the art world appreciate this strategy. Mr. Pais, for instance, said that banks should have exclusive spaces for art instead of “trivialising art” and making it “less exclusive” by displaying them on the walls. This had never helped the artists, he said and sought to know if the banks had sold any of the paintings.
On the other hand, the exterior walls of the University College have an example of “public art”. They are covered with white “stick figures” on a mud-coloured background, and look much as Warli paintings. But that is exactly what some artists are critical of. John Chandran, who draws cartoons (with no text), said that artists of the region should try to be original and develop a style that was indigenous instead of copying Warli or Madhubani paintings. Some years ago, a “Kudla Kala Habba” was organised in Kadri's Akashvani Deer Park, where 300 artists showcased their works and a large number of people visited the event.
