It may not qualify as the Bengal Renaissance but Calcutta could have discovered a niche with its first ever Metropolitan Festival of Art.When artist Jogen Chowdhury hit upon the idea, he had more on his mind than just a public showcasing of some of the greatest canvases of the Bengal School. But he has found the response rather overwhelming.The evenings saw hundreds file past the halls of the Calcutta Information Centre to view some rare works of the Tagores (Rabindranath, Ananindranath, Gaganendranath) and Jamini Roy - assembled from private collectors and galleries. The occasion also saw survivors of the nationalist art movement like Bhavesh Sanyal rub shoulders with younger artists like Kanchan Dasgupta.The seminar sessions witnessed an unprecedented articulation of perceptions from opposing shades of the Indian art spectrum. Critics like Geeta Kapoor, Vivan Sundaram, artist-academic Ghulam Mohammed Sheikh and art historian Partho Mitter presented papers which stimulated art lovers from the host city. "The most invigorating were the open sessions where I could hear, for the first time, youngsters articulate their visions," says artist Manjit Bawa. "Calcutta being neutral territory, it can develop into a big meeting place for people from either side of the divide," says Gayatri Sinha, a Delhi-based art critic..preferred-source-banner{ margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom:10px;}The big question, posed by artists and critics from all over the country - as to where Indian art is headed - is easy enough to answer. With the Asian influence receiving an impetus in style, the artists' westward-looking tendency could be on the wane as well. It is in this context that discovering a forum where re-engaging links with the aesthetics of past legacies becomes crucial. Reviving the Bengal School may be out of the question but regional roots should not be altogether discarded. That was the general consensus arrived at towards the end of the festival.Though not officially a part of this effort, the Indian Museum hosted "Painted Delights of Bengal", where its collection of pre-Bengal School works was put up for the first time. Says Shyamal Chakraborty, a museum official, "Few were aware until now that painting in Bengal goes back one thousand years." The city has shown little interest in art in recent years. The reason: Calcuttans just don't feel as strongly about art as they do about films and literature.However, at least a beginning has been made here. If the Calcutta group can get its act together, they will definitely have the support of their peers across the country. At this first-time event, artists and critics came, debated and left. But not before emphasising that the Calcutta Metropolitan Festival ought to be made an annual event. Who knows? The city could soon earn a more prominent place on the country's artmap.Published By: AtMigration Published On: Dec 29, 1997--- ENDS ---
