SRINAGAR: The first ever terracotta sculpture camp in the foot of Shankracharya hill, overlooking Dal Lake, attracts large number of visitors, including art lovers.
The eight-day-long camp, has been organised by Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture and Languages (AACL) from yesterday for the first time in the history of the Academy.
Secretary of the AACL Khalid Bashir said 11 artists from Jammu, Kashmir and Delhi are participating in the camp. Ms Jyotsana Singh, herself actively working in the terracotta art, has provided infrastructural facilities for the Camp.
Mr Khalid said it was his commitment made at a painting exhibition at Jammu recently to hold a Terracotta Sculpture Camp. He said Kashmir has a rich tradition of Terracotta Art from dates back to the BC era.
The oldest terracotta objects excavated in Kashmir were from the archaeological site of Doon Pathri in Pahalgam dating back to 1st century AC.
Similarly, he said, terracotta pottery and art objects have been found at other places like Gofkral, Huinar, Harvan and Ushkar which speak of the perfection the terracotta art had achieved in ancient Kashmir.
Secretary said the Academy wanted to promote terracotta art and the State level camp was the first and significant step in that direction.
He hoped that the participating artists would find the Camp a rewarding experience and produce fine art pieces. The beautiful setting of the Camp, he said, would further sharpen their creative abilities.
The participating artists included Bishembar Mehta, Arvind Gupta, Shaiqa Mohi, Sukhjeet Singh Kakal, Kamod Mohinder, Mohammad Iqbal, Jasleen Singh, Vikas Khajuria, Anish Tickoo and Naresh Kumar.
They hailed the decision of the Academy to hold the terracotta sculpture camp and described it as a significant step and recognition to the terracotta art. The artists will be assisted by Gulzar Ahmad, an experienced potter from Pulwama.
