3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Prez hosts Sohrai artists from state in Delhi
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Ranchi: The state's indigenous Sohrai Art made a powerful impression on the national stage as 10 tribal women artists from Hazaribag showcased their talent in the art at the Kala Utsav, hosted at the Rashtrapati Bhavan between July 14 and 24.
The event, a part of the 'Artists in Residence Programme', was supported by the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA) and brought the long-overdue recognition to this traditional mural art form.
Painted using natural pigments on earthen walls, Sohrai Art is deeply connected to Jharkhand's agrarian and spiritual life. It is typically practised by tribal women during harvest and festive seasons.
Despite its cultural richness, it largely remained on the margins of India's mainstream art narrative because of the lack of patrons and promotion of the art and the artistes.
At the Rashtrapati Bhavan event, the art received appreciation at the highest level. President Droupadi Murmu, who personally visited the workshop, called it a reflection of India's soul.
"These artworks reflect the soul of India, our connection to nature, our mythology, and our community life. I deeply admire how each of you continues to uphold these invaluable traditions," she said, lauding the 10 artistes from the state.
Making it a seamless experience for the 10 participating artistes, the IGNCA Regional Centre, Ranchi, coordinated with the authorities concerned for the Rashtrapati Bhavan event.
Speaking about the significance of this event, Sumedha Sengupta, a project associate of IGNCA told TOI: "This is the first time that Sohrai Art has been given exposure at the national level, and along with it, Jharkhand, also received a special form of exposure on the national platform.
While other tribal art forms like Warli and Madhubani have long enjoyed recognition, ours haven't. We're hopeful that this event will now open new vistas for our art form.
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She added, "We are also aiming to take this next to the PMO. This platform gives visibility not just to the art but to the lives revolving behind it. There will be future opportunities for these artists in exhibitions, residencies, and cultural collaborations."
