Shillong, Dec 18: As part to commemoration of the 83rd death anniversary of Khasi poet U Soso Tham, Commissioner and Secretary in-charge of Art and Culture department, FR Kharkongor on Monday inaugurated the ‘Thoh Shun Art Camp 2023” held at the Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICCSSR)- North East Regional Centre (NERC) conference hall, NEHU campus.
The art camp which will conclude on December 27 is organized by Riti Academy of Visual Arts and Shantiniketan Kala Bhavan Praktoni in collaboration with ICSSR-NERC and INTACH Meghalaya Chapter. The art camp is being sponsored by the Department of Arts and Culture.
While lauding the decision to start this art camp on the auspicious occasion when the state commemorate the death anniversary of U Soso Tham, Kharkongor appealed to the team of artists to use this camp to sort of capture the essence of land, language and lineage which are the three important legacies of the indigenous community.
According to him, the indigenous community has no identity without these three legacies.
“Without the unique lineage and language we have no identity. When I say language, I don’t only mean language in a limited sense of being reduced to paper. But language through art language and canvas,” Commissioner and Secretary said.
He further said that he was please to learnt that Riti Academy of Visual Arts and Shantiniketan Kala Bhavan Praktoni has signed a Memorandum of Undertanding (MOU) since this initiative will institutionalize this exchange and there will be this kind of cross pollination, cross exchange of ideas and cross visits which are so important for the creative continuance to blossom.
Kharkongor also said that they are in the era of creative economies as well since art is not a vanity project anymore about the artist and painting speaking about individual self.
“But now art is a means of speaking to society and also a means of livelihood. So we are in the era of creative economy where art can be a unifier and contributor,” he added.
Chief Creative Director of Riti Academy, Raphael Warjri and ICSSR NERC honorary director, Dr B. Panda also spoke on the occasion.
