A public sculpture ‘The Earth’ was inaugurated at the Dr. T.M.A. Pai Planetarium Complex here on Friday by Vasanti R. Pai, chairperson of MAHE Hostel Management Committee. The sculpture has been commissioned and donated by the K.K. Hebbar Art Foundation to Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE).
Chitranjan Moharana, an emerging artiste from Odissa, sculpted it in Makrana, Rajasthan, out of white marble and transported it to Manipal. “The foundation has been supporting emerging artists ever since inception and has instituted several scholarships, commission and residencies in their vision to support artists,” said Rekha Rao, trustee of the foundation.
The K.K. Hebbar Gallery and Arts Centre, MAHE, initiated the whole process through the foundation. Two new paintings were also gifted on this occasion by Narayan Hebbar, celebrated artiste K.K. Hebbar’s nephew.
“The inspiration and concept behind the sculpture was to bring into light the various distresses that are afflicting this earth from an ecologically conscious perspective,” said art historian Rajani Prasanna.
H. Vinod Bhat, Vice Chancellor, MAHE, said the theme of the art work was most relevant,
Over the past three years, the K.K. Hebbar Gallery and Arts Centre has been steadily growing and is focused on establishing a strong collection of works having acquired up to twelve new works by donations from well-wishers and institutions.
