“Artists have a responsibility to engage with social issues through their performance. No artist can escape from social responsibility,” M.S. Murthy, chairman, Karnataka Lalitakala Academy, said in Bidar recently.
He was speaking at the inauguration of ‘Mungaru’, an art camp that showcases artists from Dalit and Adivasi communities, at the Karnataka Sahitya Sangha here.
“Artists can always say they create art works for their own personal happiness or for the eyes of art lovers. However, if the artist does not react to social issues through his creations, he will not be happy. Real happiness comes out only when the artist tries to become a more complete person and a mature citizen by participating in the dialogue and reacting to the travails of fellow citizens,” he said. The Academy that completed 50 years in 2014, will bring out books about art history in these decades. It will focus on artists who have made a difference. A separate book will highlight classical art forms.