Revival of Art in Gaya

 Revival of Art in Gaya (BIHAR)

Introduction and Prologue

Gaya is the one of the old heritage city of India. For the visual art; it has a glimpse to show their contribution in Stone carving and in wooden toy making from past to till now. 

Lots of artist visits every year to see the glory of this city in which some want to leave there mark here. Great Shilpacharya Nandlal Bose were also Visited here once. Many do not know today that Acharya Upendra Maharathi used to come to Gaya to live as a recluse (ekantavas) in Buddhist places of pilgrimage like Bodhgaya. 

Upendra Maharath gave life to their traditional sense of art; the stone pots made in the district of Gaya took a new shape and form for he taught them how to introduce new comfortable stone pots to be used everyday and also as decorative pieces.

 It was possible to inspire these craftsmen with a new culture because he was one of them and earned their love and trust.

 Artist of company style of paintings, probably named Babban jee also was native of Manpur in Gaya. One can see his landscape painting's collected in Patna Museum also known as Jaadu Ghar. Most of his landscape shows the picturesque of holy places of Gaya like Akshyavat, Pretshila, Bramhayoni etc. 

 In the past 25 years (what I observed), some of artists have made their profound contribution to develop the local art scenario in all stream of visual art of this city for which many of rising artists got inspiration.

    New Idea and exposer   

 I would like to remember Acharya Shilpi Surendra, Narendra kumar sinha (Fullan Babu), Dr. Shivanand Singh 'Savita' to their noteworthy contribution. Mr. Pavitra Kumar Sarkar  (served as art teacher in Kendriya Vidhyalaya No. 1.) have created many landscape paintings of different location of this city in watercolour with late Fullan Babu . Late Anil Kumar was one of the Disciple of Pavitra Kumar Sarkar.

 Dr. Satyam Shivam, late. Anil Kumar, Late. Suresh Shrivastava and Mr. Rajendra Kumar; a disciple of Shilpi Surendra have a credit to expose new seeds in which; Manish Kumar Sinha (Known Sculptor), Madhup Mayank Sinha(sculptor; now working as Art Teacher in JNV,), Dr. Shashi Kant Nag (Artist, Academician, Curator; Now working as Assistt. Professor, MGKVP in Varanasi) Ashok Kumar Sinha (now working as Art Teacher in DAV, Cantt. area, Gaya)  grown-up spontaneously. While many other students were also associated with above people; some another individuals were also doing practice Like Ashok, Sunil (passed away in 2007), Abdul Kadir aka Babloo, Birendra Kr. Nidhi, Ranvijay Sharma, Vijay Croanch, Dhananjaya Sinha, Rajesh Lal Jhangar (Bihari jee) etc. 

Later Mr. Rajesh rathor, trained from IKSVV, Khairagarh, Shifted in Gaya and added some additional flavor. These II^nd generations of Artist did a lot to the development of Aesthetical perception about art in local society. Many of new art-students were got training under guidance of them and admitted in different Universities for higher education.

 By the passing time many private institutions begun by these artists for proper primary training/education of fine art. Mr. Ashok Kumar Sinha, a gentleman took initiative seriously and started Buddha Painting Institute in the month of October of 1997. That time he was too excited to curate an exhibition of paintings made by himself and his close friends. later Budhha Painting Institute has spreaded their three branches and many other sister concern wings. 

Now; at the time of "One Day Artists Camps and exhibitions" dated............. Mr. Ashok has same spirit & excitement to flourish the aura of this cultural city. I admire him and Wish him for Good luck and Bright future. 

I would like to appreciate to all participants for their keen interest to taking part in artist camp Held at Hadhadwa: a place on root of Bramhayoni Hill.

Steve Lambert, a conceptual artist of America Cited in Creative Times Reports on twitter panel; "Change doesn't start with action, its start with vision. Artists are great at creative vision". As Artist Henery Moor Say's; "To be an artist is to believe in life", this is my believe that Art and artist of Gaya will become a tinkling stars globally.

Thanks

Dr. S K Nag

Assistant Professor of fine arts,

Mahatma Gandhi Kashi Vidhyapeeth,( Gangapur Campus), Varanasi