First International Print Biennale to be held in India

Keeping in mind the passion and the intimacy of print as a visual art medium, The Lalit Kala Akademi, has launched its first International Print Biennale to discover new artistic trends in printmaking, nationally and internationally.

The Akademi has been serving the entire country by promoting the creative endeavours of Indian artists. Pivotal to the Lalit Kala Akademi's mission is the encouragement of an ever-deeper understanding and enjoyment of modern and contemporary art before diverse local, national and international audiences.

The Print Biennale has been scheduled for the month of March and April 2018, in the Lalit Kala Akademi and NGMA galleries. It will be a one of a kind event where artists from all over the world will be able to send in their works and showcase their artwork on an international platform. Further, there are five grand prizes of two lakh each, apart from the honourable mentions for a few selected meritorious works. The Akademi will also hold a five-day workshop of the awarded artists.

Talking about the decreasing practice of printmaking among the artists, C.S. Krishna Setty, Administrator, he Lalit Kala Akademi said, "Over the years, the practice of printmaking is decreasing among artists. As a result, many printmakers are taking refuge in other mediums for their survival. To arrest this situation, we need to boost this medium with international exposure. Moreover, with the advancement of new technologies, this medium has taken new dimensions all over the world, which needs to be showcased to the art fraternity and connoisseurs."

The biennale will be organized in collaboration with National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA). Speaking of the same, Adwaita Gadanayak, DG, NGMA, said, "The museum has international facilities which will be given to the Akademi to present their best foot forward for this international endeavour. It is imperative for more and more organisations to come together and create an atmosphere of art creation and growth."

The first selection will be made based on the digital entries sent by the artists. If the work gets approved by the jury, it will be displayed during the exhibition. Later in the second round, selected artists will be asked to send their original work so that it gets easier to choose the winners.

Paula Sengupta, a printmaker and teacher, mentioned that printmaking is over four centuries old and is a culmination of many years of practice. Further on, she mentioned, "The reason printmaking is alive in India is that it is still fostered in Indian art institutes and the studios that Lalit Kala Akademi has provided in its regional centers."

The Akademi will also invite few senior and veteran artists for the exhibition under the invited section. Anupam Sud, a senior and internationally known Delhi based printmaker has been given the responsibility of the Commissioner of the exhibition. Other steering Committee members are well-known printmakers like Ananda Moy Banerji, Dattatraya Apte, R.S. Sham Sunder, Paula Sen Gupta and Vijay Bagodi.