Morung Express News
Dimapur | December 29
Scores of artists including painters, sculptors, musicians and poets converged at the Rajbari monument site in Dimapur on Thursday to a free-wheeling creative experience, courtesy the ‘Art Picnic’ organized by a London-based Naga artist.
Amidst the ruins of the old Kachari heritage site maintained by the Archaeological Society of India (ASI), both professional and aspiring artists drew sketches and painted colours on their canvases, as poets penned their muses in corners and local musicians sang out their hearts.
An initiative of Temsuyanger Longkumer, a London-based artist, today’s event is the second edition of the ‘Art Picnic’, which was first held last year in Kohima and Dimapur.
Vini Chishi, a BA 4th semester student from Tetso College, who is engaged in a nature-themed painting in her canvas, said she is not a professional artist but came to the event to find an outlet for one of her hobbies. Vini confided that her favourite artist is Akiane Kramarik, a US based canvas artist who came into fame in her teens for her spiritually-themed paintings.
Sitting underneath the shade of a tree along fellow artists was Anungla Longkumer, giving final stitches to her Naga traditional bag using indigenous thread from the Khiamniungan tribe. Anungla said she is not into any commercial enterprise, but solely into embroidery and stitching traditional bags and clothes for her “personal interest.”
In the centre of the art picnic was a group of minstrels belting out melodies using both modern instruments like the guitar and innovative percussion instruments like a large aluminum cup.
When asked whether they are an organized band, the members replied that they are just a big family comprising of three Naga tribes (Angami clan Tepa, Ao clan Longkumer and Longchar and Sumi clan Chishi) coming to jam together.
Thirty one year old Wipawee Panjinda from Thailand who studied fine arts (sculpture) at Shantinekitan was also in attendance. Married to a Naga, she said that her daughter Wipawee is currently pursuing her Ph.D on Veswuzo Phesao, a versatile Chakhesang folk artist employed in NEZCC, as the subject (topic) of her thesis.
Twenty eight year old Limatula Longkumer, an artist based in Delhi, was among the professional artists to take part in the event. Limatula is a freelance illustrator and painter and had showcased her works in a group exhibition for a charity earlier in Delhi.
Aten Nokdir, a 31 year old Dimapur-based artist, is another professional artist who attended the event. A graduate of fine arts from Jamia Millia University, Aten said he has exhibited his works quite a number of times, including the latest at NEZCC organized by the NGO ‘Act of Kindness.’
Temsuyanger Longkumer said the main objective of organizing the ‘Art Picnic’ was to network and connect artists living in Dimapur, as he observed that most artists in the commercial hub are reclusive and living in their own worlds due to communication gaps.
“In conventional art, Nagaland is behind other states but we are rich in traditional art. We want to make this an annual event and besides Dimapur and Kohima, we want to spread this event to other towns in the state”, he said.
Temsuyanger who initiated the Art Picnic without any external funding, also informed that he is planning to open a trust by the name of Hive Art Trust, to preserve and promote Naga art and culture.
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