Two-Day Painting Exhibition Highlights Odissi Art and Ancient Temple Heritage

Bhubaneswar: Shakuntala Art Gallery, in collaboration with Sanskar Bharati, Utkal East Region (Visual Arts Department), organised a two-day painting exhibition and discussion session at the Shakuntala Art Gallery near Uttara Chhak on the outskirts of the city, bringing together senior artists to celebrate Odisha’s rich artistic and cultural traditions.

As many as 20 eminent artists from across Odisha participated in the exhibition, presenting artworks rooted in traditional and mythological themes in the Odissi style. Notable participants included Janardan Parmaguru, Pradeep Pandey, Rajesh Kumar Nayak, Arun Jena, Dr. Durgamadhaba Kar, Dr. Panchanan Samal, Shivanarayan Mahapatra, Atasi Basu, Priyadarshini Mohanty, Tejaswini Samantsinghar, Nirod Nandini Behera, Namita Sahu, Dr. Sthitadhi Rath, Santosh Maharana, Ashok Behera and Subash Pujahari. The exhibition drew appreciation from art lovers for its aesthetic depth and strong linkage with Odisha’s classical visual traditions.

A key feature of the event was an interactive discussion session with the participating artists. Dr. Durgamadhaba Kar, Head of the Department of Art, Odisha College of Art, and Dr. Panchanan Samal, Principal of Dhauli Art College, shared their perspectives on the evolution and relevance of traditional and mythological art forms. Dr. Sthitadhi Rath, Convenor of Visual Arts, Sanskar Bharati, and Sangram Maharana, Art Director of News Seven Channel, also joined the interaction, emphasising the importance of preserving Odisha’s visual heritage through contemporary artistic practices.

On the second day, the artists undertook a heritage visit to the ancient Gangeswari Temple at Gop Bayalisabati near Konark, closely studying its architectural features. After examining the stonework and signs of decay, the artists unanimously opined that the temple is much older than the Sun Temple of Konark and not a contemporary structure. While the temple’s shikhara follows the Rekha style, its elaborate external ornamentation suggests that it predates even the Lingaraj Temple, they observed. The artists further noted that the Gangeswari Temple is likely contemporary to the Chourasi Barahi Temple, dismissing claims that it is a miniature replica of the Konark Sun Temple.

The programme was coordinated by researcher Sanjay Baral, Dr. Sthitadhi Rath of Sanskar Bharati, and Janardan Parmaguru, Director of Shakuntala Art Gallery, who together ensured the smooth conduct of the exhibition and associated activities.