BHUBANESWAR: Odisha Lalit Kala Akademi in association with Odisha Language, Literature and Culture department celebrated the 100 birth centenary of great painter and artist Muralidhar Tali at the State archives in Bhubaneswar, Monday.
Eminent artist and painter Baladev Prasad Maharatha, who was also the Chief Guest of the occasion, stressed on pursuing Tali’s work ethics in modern paintings. He said, “Born in 1922 in Sambalpur, Tali had dedicated his whole life to creative painting, design and graphics. His painting ‘Mother’ touched many hearts in the state. I hope everyone should respect his dedication and will get inspiration from his life.”
Secretary of Lalit Kala Akademi Manas Jena, who curated the programme, said, “An artist never gets old, because of his work. Muralidhar Tali was always young through his art and paintings and he loved to do illustrations. He was always an inspiration to younger generations always. He also said that Lalit Kala Akademi is proposing construction of a bronze statue of him and a road being named after him”.
Artist Gouranga Barik said, “The art of the past and present are vastly different. They have different vision and focus. Emotion, which was an essential ingredient of early 20th century Odia art, has given place to an issue-based international art. The artists who paved the way for early modernism in Odisha have been forgotten. The time has come for his idealism to be reflected in modern art. He has been accolade many a times for his amazing western art, which still difficult to replicate.”
Sculptor Laxmidhar Rana said, “His tribal work is simply outstanding. We should augment our efforts to preserve his style in art.” Artists Banchanidhi Patnaik and Tunedru Patnaik among many art connoisseurs were also present on the occasion.