Kozhikode is becoming as the city of sculptures. Chief Minister Oommen Chandy declared Calicut as Shilpa Nagaram (city of sculptures) at a function held at the Calicut beach.
The event marked the union of 12 renowned sculptors in and outside Kerala who came to Kozhikode to carve 12 sculptures, which would give the city a face- lift.
The CM unveiled Remembrance, a granite sculpture by Advait Gatnaik from Odisha.
Oommen Chandy said these precious sculptures would facilitate new thoughts and ideas.
It is an innovative project, rendered practical, he said.
Minister for Cultural Affairs KC Joseph presided over the function. District Collector K.V.Mohan Kumar welcomed the gathering.
Chairman, Kerala Lalitha Kala Akademi; KA Francis gave the introductory speech.
Minister for Panchayats and Social welfare Dr.M.K.Muneer, M.K.Raghavan M.P, Sreemoolanagaram Mohan, and the sculptors were present at the function.
Out of 12 granite statues, six will be installed at the Calicut beach and three at the Sarovaram Bio-Park and one each at the Bhatt Road Beach, the Mananchira, and the S.K.Pottekkad Cultural centre.
Apart from Remembrance, V.K.Rajan’s Rhythmic Silence, P.O.Hotchimin’s The Otherness, Joseph M Vargheses’s Fire, Johns Mathew’s The rain lamp, Pradeep Kampathally’s The beginning of the end are the statues proposed to be installed at the Calicut beach.
K.S.Radha Krishnan’s Time Tides, Deepika Sahe’s Mother, Purush and Prakruthy by Saurav Jana are anticipated to be unveiled at the Mananchira, the S.K Centre and the Bhatt Road Beach respectively.
K.P.Soman’s The Light House, Nandu Bihari Das’s The Triumph, Rajendra Tikku’s Sanctuary of a Tablet are the sculptures that are likely to be opened at Sarovaram Bio-Park.
The Shilpanagaram project is implemented by the Kerala Lalitha Kala Akademi (Kerala Academi for Fine Arts) in association with the District Tourism Promotion Council, Kozhikode.
A sculptor’s camp has been in progress at the ADM Bungalow, Malaparambu since a month to fulfill this dream. Sculptors would stay back until project completion. Unveiling of other sculptures would be held soon.
New sight.. visitor’s look at Remembrance.
Sculptor Advait Gatnaik explains his sculpture, Remembrance to Chief Minister Oommen Chandy.
