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The poorly set up Artists’ Corner wears a deserted look even as art work from Naga artists are on display, at the Hotel Saramati area, in Dimapur on Tuesday. (EM Images)[/caption]
Dimapur, Dec. 4 : The 10-day Artists’ Corner, an art exhibition being organised in Dimapur for the first time is being received poorly. Having started on Sat. Dec. 1 at Hotel Saramati’s premises, the exhibition had just about five visitors till Tuesday.
The Artists’ Corner is hosted by the department of Art and Culture Nagaland in association with NEU Naga Art Foundation. The exhibition features exhibition and sale; painting demonstrations; sculpture; a painting competition; and a session for interaction, among others. The event is also being held at the Kohima WWII museum premises.
The poor and lukewarm response to the event only makes the premises duller. Participants Shovezo Keyho and Lhoulavikho Sachü from Kohima had come all the way down with high expectations to Dimapur to display their art as the event was being held for the first time in the cosmopolitan town. The two dejected artists expressed dissatisfaction not only at the lukewarm response but also with the poorly set up exhibition corner. They pointed out that the idea to organise the event in Dimapur had also been uncertain. “Not much importance was given to Dimapur and our Naga people are least interested in art,” the duo said. Their art works are on display at the Artists’ Corner. What’s more, most of the people here do not have an idea that such an event is being held in Dimapur, they added.
The artists were also critical about the people’s view of art. ‘There is no appreciation for art among the Nagas and their concern is only with the price and not on the work and effort put in by the artists.’
The exhibition is also selling art, but there are no visitors and there are no takers. Sachü and Keyho were of the opinion that the event was being organised in Dimapur just ‘for namesake.’
A member of NEU Naga Art Foundation, Akup Buchem, commented on the lukewarm response. He commented that the poor response was perhaps due to poor promotion for the Dimapur event as it was being organised for the first time in Dimapur.
According to the visitors’ entry journal, only six visitors so far have been recorded for attendance there. Buchem was hopeful of receiving a modest, even if not considerable, response from the remaining days of the festival. The expectation is likewise for the painting competition at the venue, which will be held on Dec. 6 for the age group 15-25 years. The Artists’ Corner is open from 10 am to 5 pm till Dec. 10 at Hotel Saramati’s premises. Sculptures, paintings and art work of 23 artists comprising professionals, amateurs and students are on display.
