Art Education News from Orissa India BKCAC, Bhubaneswar, will complete its 25 years in 2009 and to mark the occasion, the alumni of the college will organise a silver jubilee event at the college premises. The event will highlight the co
News-Antique.com - Feb 01,2009 - ORISSA is a land of natural beauty. The geographical changes between the topography of its coastal areas and the hinterland provides an extremely rich base for a rich culture which, while retaining its folk identity, has played an important part of mainstream culture in the country. The tribal gods and goddesses still retain an enigmatic charm, their combination with the Vaishnavite and Saivite amalgam resulting in the Jagannatha consciousness. The life of the people is marked by rituals and festivities with elaborate community participation, characteristic of a living faith that epitomizes the culture of eastern India.
Historically, its importance extends to mythical times which historians have eulogized. The heritage which we experience today exhibits this richness. Not only is the entire region dotted with relics from its magnificent past, the unified culture still overpowers all the other influences. Evidence of the continuing traditions is best epitomized by the architectural heritage, a standing testimony to the glorious culture and its attached symbolism. These examples help us unravel the bygone era with its rich, invaluable heritage and its continuing evolution.
The art and architecture in many ways defines the cultural history of Orissa, going back to the days of Kalinga. Emperor Ashoka’s conquest of Orissa, 261 BC, possibly signifies the starting point of the art and architecture of Orissa, partly because there is no evidence of relics surviving from the pre-Ashokan period. Thus the span of its history of architecture extends from Ashoka till the sixteenth century AD in a continuous phase of architectural development.
Art education has been a non-state affair in Orissa. While the richness of the cultural resources has attracted many artists and scholars from all over the globe to enrich their knowledge, least has been ever thought for its development by the government. In spite of all the snags the resources have inspired several intellectuals to build on it a strong foundation that could be able to carry the legacy forward.
Bibhuti Kanungo College of Art & Crafts has been a significant chapter in contemporary orissan art. Established in 1984, the BKCAC opened up new avenues for the artists to experiment and stretch their limits without being victimised by politics. The founder members of the college have responsibly delivered an environment with human ambience where artistic freedom could find an appropriate expression. The comprehensive effort of the teachers and students in the provided space, dreamt of a new world that deals with innovation and realisation. The integrated conviction has brought the BKCAC through these twenty five years; from a rented house at Kalpana Square to its own premise at Khandagiri in Bhubaneswar, from small rooms to spacious studios, from deputed teachers to permanent faculties, from town exhibitions to international exposure. In these years there have been ups and downs but the nuance and vibe of the associates has remained intact.To mark this , all the students passed from BKCAC has formed an organization AlumniBKCAC, and it will work towards upliftment and promotion of college and orissan art.
