By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Dec 18: An art camp titled ‘Thoh Shun Art Camp 2023’ was inaugurated as part of the commemoration of the 83rd death anniversary of revered Khasi poet, U Soso Tham, here on Monday.
The camp was launched by the Commissioner and Secretary in-charge of Art and Culture department, FR Kharkongor at the Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICCSSR)-North East Regional Centre (NERC) conference hall, NEHU campus.
The art camp, which will culminate on December 27, is being organised by Riti Academy of Visual Arts and Shantiniketan Kala Bhavan Praktoni in collaboration with ICSSR-NERC and INTACH Meghalaya Chapter, and is sponsored by the Department of Arts and Culture.
Lauding the decision to start the art camp, Kharkongor appealed to the team of artists to use the opportunity to 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 and canvas,” the Commissioner and Secretary said.
He further said that he was pleased to learn that Riti Academy of Visual Arts and Shantiniketan Kala Bhavan Praktoni have signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA), adding that the initiative will institutionalise this exchange and there will be again be similar cross exchange of ideas and cross visits which, he observed, are 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 about the artist anymore and the painting speaking about individual self.
“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.