Bengaluru saw the 14th edition of the much-awaited yearly art spectacle Chitra Santhe on January 15. As you make your way through the hustle bustle, a spectacle awaits. The Santhe is not just any art fair. This festival is a celebration of art, a confluence of artists and art lovers, art collectors and galleries. This time, post the demonetisation, many would have thought that it would be a damp affair, but to everyone’s surprise the visitors who thronged to witness this arty soiree were a mammoth 3.5 lakh! The art business stood at a jaw dropping '2.1 crore. Where else will you get people in such large numbers, that too on a Sunday who come together to encourage and collect art? This one had traditional and contemporary swagger, with students and artists from Chitrakala Parishath churning out performance after performance, enthralling and engaging all. Out of 2,000 applications, the 1,200 artists showed their mettle. While most artworks were clichéd, Buddhas, tigers, horses, there were a few marvellous renditions and small beautiful works by different artists who came from far away destinations like Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, MP, Tamil Nadu, etc. The art show at the CKP Gallery was a sight to behold, featuring a larger than life work by Yusuf Arakkal, a tribute to the man who was taken away from us last year, and noted artists’ works — Gurudas Shenoy, Praveen Kumar, Kavitha DK. Among the wonderful artists who witnessed the unique spectacle were professors and artist trio from Bharati Vidyapeeth College in Pune, Sudhir Pawar, Santosh Khawle and Vaishali Bokde. “I was completely floored and stunned by the number of people who came and showed interest in my work. I also found a gallerist who has promised me a show, I have been to Mumbai for the Kala Godha Fest and nothing comes even close to the Chitra Santhe,” exclaimed Sudhir Pawar. Santosh echoed the same feeling, “I am speechless at the huge crowd. The organisers took care of every thing.” Vaishali Bokde, a young artist added, “I will never forget this experience. The admiration and inclination of the people in Bengaluru for art is tremendous.” Kavitha DK felt that the government and the college are continuing their good job of promoting art, adding, “A suggestion is to create a catalogue for all the artists exhibiting outside as well.” An art lover, Sujata Sah Sejekan said, “The platform is life changing for many young artists.” The Chitra Santhe left its mark on artists, and also left an image of Bengaluru as an art loving city. And the next year promises to be bigger and better.
The writer is an art curator and art expert.
