Art expo showcases works of Navargaon college artists

Nagpur: A four-day exhibition, titled Rustic Expression, opened at Rangayan Art Gallery at Chitnavis Centre on Thursday. Featuring works of students of Dnyanesh Chitrakala Mahavidyalay, Navargaon in Chandrapur district, the exhibition showcased fifty paintings done by eleven artists.
The rustic theme was reflected in most of the works. Done in acrylic on canvas, the paintings gave glimpses of rural landscapes and activities and images typical to hinterlands.
“The subjects of these paintings have no trace of urban impressions and have a touch of pure and undiluted emotional expressions,” said Sadanand Borkar, founder of the art school. “Most of the students are from the villages of Chandrapur, Gondia and Gadchiroli, and their works display originality, creativity and freedom of expression,” he added.
Twelve of the paintings being exhibited have been selected for the monsoon show to be held at Jehangir Art Gallery, Mumbai. “I usually work around the images taken from the surroundings which get imprinted on my mind,” said Chetan Wadhai whose five paintings are hanging at the exhibition, two of which will also make it to the art show in Mumbai.
Chitnavis Centre will be providing the gallery free of cost for four days a month. The gallery will be given to students from remote parts of Vidarbha to showcase their work. A three-member committee has been appointed by the cultural centre to pick up suitable groups of artists.
At the time of its inauguration four years back, the trustees had announced that the gallery would be given for art exhibition at no cost. But the artists who exhibited their works here were not happy with the response. “It is difficult for us also to get the people in as there are not many art patrons or buyers here,” said Avantika Chitnavis, one of the trustees.
For most of the students, this was the first exhibition. “We have a gallery in our college where paintings by students are exhibited. But we were planning to hold an exhibition for the public when this opportunity came,” said Shweta Guru.
It is for the first time that Bhagyashree Futekar’s four paintings are hanging at an art gallery while Surubhi Kagadelwar said, “Visitors to the gallery enquire about the work and ask for the artist. This gives us huge exposure.”
The exhibition was inaugurated by Kanchan Gadkari and well-known sculptor Hirachand Vikamshi. In her address, Gadkari said the corporate sector should encourage young artists by purchasing their works while Vikamshi described the exhibition as a golden opportunity for students.
The exhibition will remain open from 10.30am to 8.30pm till June 16.