The 22nd edition of Bengaluru’s iconic annual art fair, Chitra Santhe, held at the Karnataka Chitrakala Parishath (KCP), captivated over five lakh visitors on Sunday. The event showcased a wide range of artistic expressions, from traditional Gond and Pattachitra art to contemporary works, including abstract, acrylic, and oil paintings, as well as watercolours, wood art, and knife art. The fair featured regional specialties and unique artistic styles, drawing participation from over 1,500 artists from 22 states across India.

The fair was dedicated to raising awareness about the abuse of the girl child, with installations and banners celebrating icons like Mahatma Gandhi, BR Ambedkar, Savitribai Phule, and others who advocated for girls’ rights. Visitors were greeted by an eye-catching cardboard installation of a girl’s face at the entrance to KCP.

Stalls were set up in areas around Windsor Manor Hotel, Sivananda Circle, and Crescent Road, where seasoned and first-time artists exhibited their works. Some artists, such as Anup Biswas, a watercolour artist from Kolkata, and Meiyappan, a knife artist from Tamil Nadu, shared their experiences of success at the fair, with some artists making substantial sales.

The event also featured inclusive facilities, with dedicated stalls for artists with disabilities and senior citizens, helping ensure broad representation and participation. Artists like Thenmozhi and Durga, speech and hearing-impaired creators from Madurai, found opportunities to sell their handmade items, while Ganesh Kumar, a mouth painter affected by polio, appreciated the disability-friendly infrastructure in Bengaluru.

Smooth management ensured a seamless experience, with a large presence of traffic police and law enforcement personnel, along with feeder buses connecting visitors from key metro stations.

The highlight of the fair was the high-valued artwork, Lord Sri Venkateshwara with Us by Jeevan V Sakthivel, priced at Rs 7 lakh. The 8ft by 6ft oil painting, which took a year to complete, was inspired by the Chitirai Thiruvizha at Madurai’s Kallazhagar Promenade.

Chitra Santhe continues to be a vibrant and accessible platform for both artists and art enthusiasts in Bengaluru.

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