New Delhi, Dec 15 (IANS) Culture Minister Selja Thursday inaugurated the 47th Annual Exhibition of Calcutta Painters at the Lalit Kala Akademi, marking the return of the group to the capital after 47 years.
The exhibition features works by 28 veteran and contemporary artists of Bengal including Prokash Karmakar, Jogen Chowdhury, Bijan Chowdhury and Rabin Manadal.
Inaugurating the exhibition, Selja said: "The rest of the country always looks to Calcutta as a repository of art."
She said while artists in Mumbai have been subject to various influences, "Calcutta has reflected something that is quintenssentially Indian".
"The art reflects on the talent of the artists. Kolkata has upheld artistic tradition and brought new life to art. Art is very subjective to the masses. It reflects inner thoughts...," the minister said.
The exhibition features more than 50 art works painted in oil and acrylic and sculptures in bronze and mixed medium that is symbolic of the current movement in Bengal art, which is trying to create a new language.
"We held our first exhibition in the capital at the All India Fine Arts and Crafts Society in 1964. We are now preparing for our 50th anniversary show in 2014," Barun Roy, a senior artist of the group, said.
