An embryo in a polythene packet with little hands and a face sticking out. The embryo bears the face of the hapless woman whose unborn child has been killed. This disturbing image is the creation of a IIIrd year painting student of the B K College of Art and Craft.“This is a practice that is common in many parts of the country. There are still people who give more importance to a male child. Under such circumstances, a woman is forced to kill her child in her womb. I have tried to capture the emotions of a woman - the trauma, love for her unborn child, fear and her lack of options when it comes to raising her voice,” says Panchanan Sa, the artist.His painting is a part of Drawings, an annual exhibition by painting students of the art college at Lalit Kala Akademi. More than 50 works by 35 students are on display.In fact, every work of art that has been displayed at the show is an indicator of times to come or the evils prevailing in the society. Though the degree show is a routine affair for the art college, the students have tried to take this to another level of creativity.As one enters the Akademi, a large painting welcomes visitors. The canvas gives a view of eagles soaring against a sea green backdrop on mushrooms that have patterns of different animal skins on them. Hinting at poaching, the artist Madhab Mandal has tried to draw attention of viewers towards the depleting green cover which is facilitating easy poaching in forests today.Struggle for survival for humans and animals, is one idea many of the participating students have worked upon. Like Madhab, another student Bichismita Pany draws a closed door through which a pair of shackled feet has come out. A shackled woman is the subject of Pragnya Digdarshni’s painting who wants to highlight the restrictions imposed upon women during various stages of life by her family and the society at large.Environmental issues also find space in the exhibition. Fourth year student Satyajit Haldar draws an eagle hovering above a dried up planet. Devoid of life of any kind, the planet has just one tree. Similarly, Kuber Barik paints squirrels sitting atop the branches of partially felled tree. The artist has also created an excellent water colour painting of a hearth. Like Kuber, Rakesh Chandra Jena paints a farmer cutting crops in water colour.Besides, students have presented works on the themes of abstract, city life, peace, child labour and secularism."This annual art exhibition of the college is much more than a mere display of selected works produced during the year. It showcases the thoughts, the beliefs, the passion and the struggle of the students on the road to creative self-expression. It is a summary of the various skills and techniques that they learn and explore throughout the year,” says painter Subrat Mallick, head of the department of painting.“Over the several years of its existence, the college has nurtured many great teachers, artists and thinkers who have had the passion and vision to work for development of the aesthetic aspects of life,” he adds.The exhibition has been put together to provide upcoming artists an opportunity to experience the thrill and satisfaction of organising solo and group shows in future. “It provides a “springboard” for the essential professional and commercial exposure in order to broaden their horizons,” Mallick adds.On up to May 12, the exhibition showcases paintings in oil, water colours and mixed media among others. It was inaugurated in the presence of eminent artist and art historian Dinanath Pathy on May 7.
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