Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Aug 30: For the first time in the history of the institution, J&K Academy of Art, Culture & Languages today organised 8-day State Level Terracotta Sculpture Camp in which 11 artists from Jammu, Kashmir and Delhi are participating.
The Camp, organised in association with the Dara Shikoh Centre for Art (DSCA), was inaugurated by Secretary Academy of Art, Culture & Languages , Khalid Bashir Ahmad, at the bewitching Almond Villa Estate in the foot of the Shankracharya hill overlooking the Dal lake.
Director DSCA, Dr Jyotsna Singh, was also present. Ms Singh, herself actively working in the terracotta art, has provided infrastructural facilities for the Camp.
Speaking on the occasion, Secretary Academy said that it was his commitment made at a painting exhibition at Jammu recently to hold a Terracotta Sculpture Camp and he was happy that the commitment was fulfilled today.
He said Kashmir has a rich tradition of Terracotta Art from dates back to the BC era. The oldest terracotta objects excavated in Kashmir were from the archaeological site of Doon Pathri in Pahalgam dating back to 1st century AC. Similarly, he said, terracotta pottery and art objects have been found at other places like Gofkral, Huinar, Harvan and Ushkar which speak of the perfection the terracotta art had achieved in ancient Kashmir.
Secretary said that the Academy wanted to promote terracotta art and the State level camp was the first and significant step in that direction. He hoped that the participating artists would find the Camp a rewarding experience and produce fine art pieces. The beautiful setting of the Camp, he said, would further sharpen their creative abilities.
The participating artists include Bishambar Mehta, Arvind Gupta, Shaiqa Mohi, Sukhjeet Singh Kakal, Kamod Mohinder, Mohammad Iqbal, Jasleen Singh, Vikas Khajuria, Anish Tickoo and Naresh Kumar.
The artists will be assisted by Gulzar Ahmad, an experienced potter from Pulwama.
Trending Now
E-Paper
Follow our WhatsApp channel