Odisha's vivid tribal art on display in city

NT Correspondent
Bengaluru

Odisha Lalit Kala Akademi is organising Odishan Tribal Artist Camp and Tribal Painting Exhibition at Karnataka Chitrakala Parishath. This is the first time around 25 tribal artists will put on display their artwork outside Odisha, to foster the cultural heritage of Odishan tribal art, especially Saura paintings. Sauras are among the most ancient of tribes in India and find a mention in the Hindu epics of Ramayana and Mahabharata.

Sabari, Lord Rama’s devotee in the Ramayana and Jara Sabar, the hunter who mortally wounded Lord Krishna with an arrow are thought to have been members of this tribe. Saura painting is a style of wall mural painting associated with the Saura tribes of Odisha. These paintings, also called ikons or edpal, visually hold religious significance for the Sauras.

They are an integral part of the religious ceremonies of the Saura tribes and are found in the southern districts of Rayagada, Ganjam, Gajpati and Koraput of Odisha. Mahindra D, president of Karnataka Lalit Kala Academy, opined that the camp and its painting exhibition must inspire the artists of Karnataka and act as a step to exchange artistic skill of Odishan artists. The exhibition was inaugurated on Saturday and will continue till 3 August.