lalit Kala Akademi’s recent exhibition, Mapping Indian Art, Culture and languages was not only about art, but its language too. It was a presentation of traditional and contemporary masks, illustrated rare manuscripts and audiovisual compilation of music and dance.
“For us language is not only the spoken and written word, but also art. We explored the link art has with academics. The idea was to show the diversity of expressions in arts reflecting different linguistic zones. So we used elements like manuscripts, masks, art, craft and musical renderings, especially of devotional music,” said KK Chakravarty, chairman lalit Kala Akademi.
Chakravarty stressed that language acts as an uniting force for the world. “The same language is spoken across the borders. Art, architecture and music, all have different expressions. We have shown all of this through illustrations. There is convergence between art and life. Ultimately all art is rooted in our livelihood,” he shared.
The traditional masks, rare illustrated manuscripts and audiovisual compilation showed the diversity of region and culture.
Chakravarty continued, “Various languages spoken across the subcontinent are deeply rooted in the myths and stories that have created the fabric of our culture, which is interconnected. The exhibition on masks by lalit Kala and two other academies had 125 masks made by contemporary artists. One of the faces displayed had 125 different expressions.”
Chakravarty believes that art is not meant for closed corridors. Thus, through this initiative, he gathered over 200 delegates from all over the country to take the message forward.
He explained, “We wanted to help communities recognise their own culture. It is a matter of life maintenance and sustenance and a way to show people how beauty and utility have no gulf. We also followed the event with an ethno-cultural and visual survey. The purpose was not to document but to revitalise. There is so much more to art — skill, knowledge, technology and memories.” There were over 3,000 people working on ground to put together the exposition which had people from the seven continents.
Chakravarty said, “We are gradually trying to spread the message. In the past, I have hosted three international congresses and one of them was called Chotro which means platform in Gujrati. The idea of that too was to bring people together. This time we had filmmakers, writers, professors, activists and environmentalists in full attendance. I am personally trying to suggest that communities all over the world unite because cultural survival is important. We are facing a problem of extinction of lot of things, not only art and culture. So, at such a time, we should come together to take care of the same.”
“Art, culture and language are what connect us, so let’s use it. We must remember, an artist is not a special kind of a human being. Every human being is a special kind of artist,” he summed up.