Garhwal Post Bureau
DEHRADUN, 27 Dec: A painting exhibition organised in memory of the late Dwijen Sen, a noted artist of the Doon Valley and founder of the Kala Kendra, is witnessing a steady turnout of visitors at the Doon Library and Research Centre and the adjoining Dwijen Sen Kala Kendra. The exhibition opened to the public on Saturday and will remain open daily from 11 am to 4 pm till December 30. The main exhibition has been set up on the third floor of the Doon Library, where artworks by painters from the Doon Valley as well as from outside the state are on display. The collection includes portraits, landscapes and sculptures, reflecting social themes, natural beauty, human emotions and philosophical ideas. Art lovers visiting the exhibition are getting an opportunity to view a wide range of artistic styles at a single platform.
Participating artists said the exhibition has provided a valuable platform to showcase their work. Megha Kathuria, a professional artist working at the Indian Military Academy (IMA) in Dehradun, said her paintings reflect stories, culture and timeless artistic expression and are displayed in homes in India and abroad. Naveen Kanwasi, an art trainee at the Kala Kendra, said the exhibition being organised at both the Doon Library Art Gallery and the Kala Kendra has increased interest in art among local residents. Young painter Hari Gurung said his works focus on portraying Uttarakhand, with subjects such as Badrinath, Rishikesh, Mahadev and Har Ki Pauri.
Works by several artists, including Lt Col VK Dougall (Retd), Colonel Bharat Bhandari, Jaspal Duggal, Alok Lal, Satpal Gandhi, Bhumesh Bharti, Meera Duggal, Anjali Thapa, Chandra B Rasaily, Arun Pant, Deepak Rawat, Monu Bhatnagar, Yashaswini Bhatnagar, Shilpi Sinha, Lata Shukla, Mukta Joshi, Harshita, Arvind Gairola, Amar Singh, Rahul Shankar, Vicky Arya, Sushma Kohli, Rajendra Dutt Kohli and Sanjay Gupta, are being exhibited and have drawn the attention of visitors.
Dwijendra Sen, popularly known as Dada, had since 1949 has contributed significantly to the art landscape of Dehradun and to keep it connected with painting and sculpture and promoting art along with leading artists of the country. For the past two decades, the Kala Kendra at Buddha Chowk has been managed by Lt Colonel VK Dougall, who is regarded as the spiritual son of Dwijen Sen. By continuing art activities, especially for children, the institution is carrying forward the founder’s vision.
Programme In-charge of the Doon Library and Research Centre, Chanderashekhar Tiwari and Head of the Kala Kendra, Lt Col Dougall, said that a large number of residents, including art lovers, professional artists and young people, are visiting the exhibition to view and appreciate the artworks on display.
