The Kala Academy organises the State Art Exhibition for Artist and Student categories in order to encourage local talent. As an artist, having your artwork exhibited at the State Art Exhibition is an achievement in itself. This year, the Artist Category received 123 artworks of which only 66 works have been selected for the exhibition which commenced yesterday.
The ‘Artist Category’ is further divided into three sub categories: ‘Painting and Graphic Print’, ‘Applied Art and Graphic Design’ and ‘Sculpture’. In each category, three entries are chosen for awards. Damodar Madgaonkar, who won the Best Award for Painting and Graphic Print, said, “This exhibition is really special for us because it’s not so easy to get your work selected. Out of the 123 entries, only 66 were selected. To be adjudged as a winner from the selected lot is a great feeling.”
Resident of Paliem-Mapusam Damodar has been entering his artworks for the last four years. “The last time my work was selected was two years ago. I’m glad that my efforts have been rewarded this time.”
“The exhibition does not have any age bar nor is it restricted to only qualified artists. It has been organised to promote artists from Goa,” says Damodar, who is a self-taught artist.
Many participate in this exhibition as it allows them to express their ideas and share space and thought processes with other artists. Another artist, J A Fernandes from Ribandar, expressed his views, saying, “For me, displaying my artwork is a big thing and when I heard the news that my work has won the Best Award in Applied Art and Graphic Design, I was pleased. I did my Fine Arts at Goa College of Art and then further studies in Rome. I love art as it allows me to express my feelings. The subject of my artwork was ‘Hope for a better after’; it was dedicated to my father. As my dad left us when I was very small. I would like to share the message that there is always hope for a better after.”
In the Painting and Graphics Print section, Rajesh Salgaonkar has been awarded the best prize for his work – ‘Untitled-II’ along with Siddharth Gosavi for ‘Untitled II’. In the Applied Art and Graphic Design, Chandan Naik Gaonkar won for his work ‘Corn Beauty’ and Dnaneshwar V Wadji for his work titled ‘Save Water’. In the Sculpture section, Mahendra J Potdar won Best Award for his work ‘King’. The exhibition was judged by Uttam Pacharne from Mumbai, Ranjan Raghuvir Joshi from Mumbai and Ravindra Salve from Delhi.
The exhibition was inaugurated on Tuesday, at the Art Gallery of Kala Academy and was followed by a Lecture cum Slide Show on ‘Types and Characteristics of Portraiture’ by Dilip Ranade at the Black Box of Kala Academy. The said exhibition will go on till November 8, 2015, between 10am to 7pm.
