The exhibition was inaugurated by artist Partha Pratim Dev, while the inaugural function was presided over by Sabyasachi Basu Ray Chaudhury, Vice Chancellor, Rabindra Bharati University, and also Chairman of the Akademi.

Partha Dey said, “As an artist, I appreciate State Akademi for its successful treatment of keeping  both the traditional and contemporary art at similar position." 

The exhibition is organised by the Akademi every year with a view to encouraging promising and talented artists of West Bengal – not only by arranging a display of their works, but also awarding them awards and certificates of merit, after all entries received are judged by separate panels of eminent artists for traditional art and contemporary art.

This year, a total of 217 traditional art and contemporary art items have been selected for display after eminent artists Anil Sen, Diptish Ghosh Dostider, Atanu Paul and Atanu Bhattacharya and Ratan Acharya and Debashis Samanta had judged all the entries received.

Atanu Paul told IBNS: “Though Bengal is rich in its art and culture but somehow their marketing and publicity is not upto the mark. Despite the ample hard work of the artists and sculptures, they are not given the deserving worth and money. But if art and culture is promoted world wide, through social networking sites and public promotions, then it can upgrade their honour and can even boast their economy well.”

They also selected the winners of the Akademi’s awards and certificates of merit, as follows:

Contemporary art

Paintings: Pralay Mistri (award), Bholanath Rudra (certificate of merit); Drawings: Mainak Chakrabarti (award), Arunangshu Roy (certificate of merit); Graphics: Jyotirmoy Dalpati (award), Pallabi Naskar (certificate of merit); Sculptures: Subhankar Bag (award), Pritam Saha (certificate of merit); and Photographs: Sujit Jana (award), Sanjoy Chakraborty (certificate of merit).

Traditional art

Patachirta (scroll paintings): Shajahan Chitrakar (award), Amina Chitrakar (certificate of merit); Madur (mats): Madhusudan Maity (award), Muktarani Jana (certificate of merit); Kantha stitch items: Shampa Majumdar (award), Sajeda Bibi (certificate of merit); Dokra items: Putul Karmakar (award), Rekha Karmakar (certificate of merit); Sola (pith) items: Ashis Malakar (award); and Wood carvings: Shantiram Rava (certificate of merit).

The Annual Art Exhibition 2015-16 is being held at the ICCR’s Nandalal Bose Art Gallery, Jamini Roy Art Gallery and the Sculpture Court, and will continue till Feb 7 from 3 pm to 8 pm.