Union Minister for Culture, Shri G. Kishan Reddy inaugurated the 62nd National Exhibition of Arts at LKA Gallery and SNA Awardee Performance Festival at Kamani Auditorium today in New Delhi. Minister of State for Culture Smt. Meenakshi Lekhi also graced the event. On this occasion Shri G. Kishan Reddy and Smt. Meenakshi Lekhi felicitated the Fellows and Awardees and released the 62nd N.E.A catalogue and also launched the New Website of Lalit Kala Akademi. Chairman of Lalit Kala Academy Ms. Uma Nanduri and other dignitaries were also present on this occasion.
Speaking on the occasion Shri Reddy said that the purpose of this National exhibition of art is to showcase the talent of all selected participants and the awardees. It is heartening to observe that there is excellent response from the artists for the exhibition and the competition. It shows the vibrancy of our times and the opportunities offered by Lalit Kala Akademi with the support of Ministry of Culture.
Shri Reddy added that Indian art over the past century shows a diverse range of artistic responses to reality. The current art practices and trends in art by the younger group of contemporary artists also aim to show how art has continued to evolve even during this hard time of the pandemic. “New forms of knowledge, aesthetic sensibilities and ideologies has reshaped the process of making art. Young artists have been experimenting with newer mediums and are responding to the environment around them”, Shri Reddy added.
Shri Reddy stated that contemporary practices by artists are constantly evolving with use of various mediums and their unique styles. Shri Reddy also highlighted that he is extremely happy to know that to commemorate this noble idea of Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav of our PM Shri Narendra Modi, Lalit Kala Akademi has decided to bring out wall street art under the heading of Jan Bhagidari, where common people’s participation is an integral part in shaping it. Shri G Kishan Reddy appealed to artists to remember and highlight the art work of artists who contributed to the freedom struggle of India through their art works.
During her address Smt. Meenakshi Lekhi extend her best wishes to all the awardees. She mentioned that an artist sees the world from a different point view and this is the creativity which is only possessed by an artist. The artifacts in this exhibition are a testimony to the bright future of Indian art. Smt. Lekhi added that the Lalit Kala Akademi is trying to bring the diverse Indian arts on one platform. She appreciated that in order to encourage artists, the Akademi has increased the number of National Awards from 15-20 from this year.
The festival of Performing Arts showcasing the Akademi awardees will continue for a period of eleven days bringing to the audience a delectable range of performances from across the length and breadth of the country and ranging over a wide spectrum of genres such as music, dance, drama, folk & tribal and allied arts and puppetry.
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