All-India Art Exhibition opens for public

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, November 6

As many as 306 pieces of art, including paintings and sculptures from across the country, have been displayed in the 15-day 82nd All-India Art Exhibition, which opened at the Indian Academy of Fine Arts (IAFA) here today.

The exhibition was inaugurated by CS Krishna Shetty, chairman and administrator, Lalit Kala Academy, New Delhi, and Rohit Gupta, PCS, in presence of Rajinder Mohan Singh Chhina, president of the IAFA.

Chhina said, “The exhibition provides an opportunity to budding artist to display their work for the people of the holy city.”

Shivdev Singh, convener of the exhibition, said, “We have received fine art works from 300 artists from all over India. These include works of artists from Jammu and Kashmir to Tamil Nadu and from Assam to Gujarat.”

“Out of the total 555 art pieces, 312 have been selected for display and inclusion in the catalogue being published,” he said.

The exhibition will be on till November 21. The host artists will share their creative process with art patrons. Some senior artists will also interact with visitors over the period of the exhibition.

The art gallery has been organising the exhibition as an annual feature since 1932. A colorful cultural programme with Sufi music by Juhi Dhingra marked the occasion.

Twelve artists were declared winners and awarded in different categories. The first prize of Rs 51,000 was given to Ram Kumar Indoriya from Raipur (Chhattisgarh), second prize of Rs 31,000 went to Sarwan Kumar from Chandigarh (Punjab). Ten cash awards of Rs 21,000 were given to other winners. Ten highly commanded certificates with cash prize of Rs 1,100 were also given away to young, budding artists. Others present on the occasion include artists AS Chamak, Dr PS Grover, Mohinderjit Singh, Gopal Kirodiwal and Narinder Singh.