An exhibition of paintings, sculptures and installations on legendary leader and former Chief Minister Biju Patnaik titled “The Tallman: A Visionary leader of the Century” has been a crowd puller. It kicked off on the Utkal Divas.
The 17-day event, which is being organised by Suvadra Art Gallery, is a tribute to the son of the soil and architect of modern Odisha Bijubabu. The expo has been conceptualised by Surya Rath, the chairman of Suvadra Art Gallery, after a successful stint in organising “The Gandhi”, a theme based art expo depicting the life and works of Mahatma Gandhi earlier this year.
The art expo was inaugurated by loksevak Mandal president and The Samaj, Board of Management Chairman Deepak Malviya. While MP Prasanna Patasani graced the ceremony as chief guest, Additional Secretary of Tourism Department Dr Nitin Bhanudas Jawale, former Commissioner of Police, Mumbai Arup Pattnaik, and District Governor of Rotary Club, Bhubaneswar Ajay Agarwal were the guests of honour.
On the inaugural day, former secretary of lalit Kala Academy and eminent artist Rabi Narayan Rath displayed as many as 12 artworks at the event.
As many as 53 artists showcased 62 artworks which included paintings, sculptures and installations. Eminent artists from Odisha including Ashish Panday, Sunil Dakua, Madhusmita Dhalsamant, Sureswar Dhal, Rajendra Narayan Sahoo, Mohammad Anwar, Manoj Mohanty, Manash Ranjan Jena, Meenaketan Pattnaik and Shyamsundar Achary are participating in the event. Dikshya Sethia from Chandigarh, Dr Sunil Viswakarma from Varanasi and sculptor laxmidhar Rana from Bihar are the other participants of the expo.
The artworks of Dasha Murmu and Binodini Behera depicting Biju Patnaik’s contribution towards upliftment of tribals in Odisha will also be on display during the exhibition, which will conclude on April 17, the death anniversary of Biju.