DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.22462#0380
Two
August 28, 1965
DICTUM DE DICTO ON ART
BY TWAN YANG
It is not often the
case that people living
in the Himalayas appre-
ciate art for its sake. An
art critic writes to me,—
"...... We are all too apt
because we see nature in
all its glory at all sea-
sons to take for granted
Beauty." One of the pain-
ful experiences which
artists usually oome
across is that they are
not enthusiastically
encouraged by the public.
Often exhibition suoh as
the one we held at the
Kalimpong Town Hall on
August 15, '55. turns out
to be a failure. Yet I
am glad to say that the
public, in Kalimpong
showed some trace of
enthusiasm. The Exhibi-
tion was a success
undoubtldly. I have been
able to sell three paintings
of my artist friends. I
am glad to mention also
that we have been able
to give away three first
prizes and two second
prizes to the students,
out of the door collections
and the sale ' of our
. catalogues.
There were 159
exhibits, mostly by
local artists like Mr. F.
M. Shen, R. Stanely, Hon.
H. M. Scot. Mrs Shea,
Robet Scot, Mr. Eland,
E. Ahoy. Mr. D. B. Dahal,
Sri Chandra Gupta, and
Mr. J. E. Cain, whose
only one painting, the
''Benidiotion" Dot only
did create a sense of
profound curiosity but
provoked^~Xhoughts. It
was one of the contem-
porary abstract arts,
scientific in itssignificence,
and philosophical in
human ideal.
It is a pity, too, that
our artists have ceased to
paint for painting sake.
What they try to repre-
ent is the common
expression of every day
life in the hills, and
common sense of natural
beauty without touching
their canvas with micros-
copic ideals, a man's
inner will and spiritual
meanings, dream & ambi-
tions, laughter, & anger,
patience and suoh other
thoughts, as we find in
our contemporary modern
art in the world today.
It is time that we in
the Himalayas should
make an effort and take
up to oubism, and abs-
tract arts rather than to
realism, Bureism and ex-
pressionism like we find
in the art of some of
our well known Himalayan
artists, like D. Daglaa,
M. Sain, J. Hurbert and
many notable artists of <
this region.
When we organise
another art Exhibition
in the Darjeeling district,
let us searoh for a real
meaning in the works so
that art may live for
art sake and not for
buying and selling sake.
What we need at this
moment, is a broader
sense of appreciation, of
efforts, zeal, and love
for this aesthetio creation
of emotion and joy.
The writer would be
better pleased if far
more encouragements were
given to the students. It
was a joy to see the
works of Sri Prem Kumar
who so obviously has.
great feelings for bis
subject. It is hoped that
the next exhibition will,
be supported by the
local schools where
talents remains hidden.
We are going to
hold . another exhibition
some time during the
puja season and my
young artists should do
their best to contribute
better paintings.
LETTERS OF A BHIKKU
(Continued from page 10)
such atrocities as go on
in broad day light under
the name of religion.
With best wishes.
Yours etc. Bhadant Anand
Kausalyayan, Dharmodaja
Vihara, Kalimpong.
August 28, 1965
DICTUM DE DICTO ON ART
BY TWAN YANG
It is not often the
case that people living
in the Himalayas appre-
ciate art for its sake. An
art critic writes to me,—
"...... We are all too apt
because we see nature in
all its glory at all sea-
sons to take for granted
Beauty." One of the pain-
ful experiences which
artists usually oome
across is that they are
not enthusiastically
encouraged by the public.
Often exhibition suoh as
the one we held at the
Kalimpong Town Hall on
August 15, '55. turns out
to be a failure. Yet I
am glad to say that the
public, in Kalimpong
showed some trace of
enthusiasm. The Exhibi-
tion was a success
undoubtldly. I have been
able to sell three paintings
of my artist friends. I
am glad to mention also
that we have been able
to give away three first
prizes and two second
prizes to the students,
out of the door collections
and the sale ' of our
. catalogues.
There were 159
exhibits, mostly by
local artists like Mr. F.
M. Shen, R. Stanely, Hon.
H. M. Scot. Mrs Shea,
Robet Scot, Mr. Eland,
E. Ahoy. Mr. D. B. Dahal,
Sri Chandra Gupta, and
Mr. J. E. Cain, whose
only one painting, the
''Benidiotion" Dot only
did create a sense of
profound curiosity but
provoked^~Xhoughts. It
was one of the contem-
porary abstract arts,
scientific in itssignificence,
and philosophical in
human ideal.
It is a pity, too, that
our artists have ceased to
paint for painting sake.
What they try to repre-
ent is the common
expression of every day
life in the hills, and
common sense of natural
beauty without touching
their canvas with micros-
copic ideals, a man's
inner will and spiritual
meanings, dream & ambi-
tions, laughter, & anger,
patience and suoh other
thoughts, as we find in
our contemporary modern
art in the world today.
It is time that we in
the Himalayas should
make an effort and take
up to oubism, and abs-
tract arts rather than to
realism, Bureism and ex-
pressionism like we find
in the art of some of
our well known Himalayan
artists, like D. Daglaa,
M. Sain, J. Hurbert and
many notable artists of <
this region.
When we organise
another art Exhibition
in the Darjeeling district,
let us searoh for a real
meaning in the works so
that art may live for
art sake and not for
buying and selling sake.
What we need at this
moment, is a broader
sense of appreciation, of
efforts, zeal, and love
for this aesthetio creation
of emotion and joy.
The writer would be
better pleased if far
more encouragements were
given to the students. It
was a joy to see the
works of Sri Prem Kumar
who so obviously has.
great feelings for bis
subject. It is hoped that
the next exhibition will,
be supported by the
local schools where
talents remains hidden.
We are going to
hold . another exhibition
some time during the
puja season and my
young artists should do
their best to contribute
better paintings.
LETTERS OF A BHIKKU
(Continued from page 10)
such atrocities as go on
in broad day light under
the name of religion.
With best wishes.
Yours etc. Bhadant Anand
Kausalyayan, Dharmodaja
Vihara, Kalimpong.