Bangalore: Kumarakrupa Road in the City came alive on Sunday as thousands of art enthusiasts headed to the Chitra Santhe, a day-long art fair.
Artists from different parts of the State and the country showcased their creativity on the Karnataka Chitrakala Parishat (KCP) campus.
“The main focus of the santhe is getting artists on a single platform to demonstrate their creativity. It also identifies and encourages upcoming artists,” said Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who inaugurated the fair.
The KCP, which was established in 1960, has successfully conducted Chitra Santhe for the past 10 years. Over 1,360 artists from 30 districts of the State and 19 other States participated in the event for the the 11th year.
Along with paintings on nature, wildlife, rural folk, various gods and personalities, caricatures of politicians were a big draw.
Artists displayed contemporary art, traditional art, puppets and modern art collections of various sizes. Organisers of the santhe said the fair aimed to elevate the general awareness of art among people.
However, several art lovers said the paintings were ‘very expensive’ and ‘not affordable’.
C.V. Supriya Giridhara, an artist from Bangalore, said “The KCP provides a platform free of cost. I am using it to assess my strength by showcasing my art to the public.”
Artists from Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Goa, Odisha, West Bengal, Assam, Jammu and Kashmir, New Delhi, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and Jharkand displayed their works.
AAP’s enrolment drive
Aam Aadmy Party, which came to power in the national capital, has used the Chitra Santhe, to expand its base in the State capital.
AAP volunteers were seen enrolling new members to the party during the fair.
“We are charging Rs. 10 per person to enrol as members, ” said a volunteer. Other volunteers were distributing the party’s pamphlets to visitors.
