Imphal, Aug. 19: An online platform for artists in Manipur is the need of the hour, feels painter Golmei Gandumpu from Imphal East district.

The artist has asked the Manipur State Kala Akademi to create a virtual platform during the lockdown.

He pointed out that numerous art platforms at the national and international level have surfaced online recently.

This is a novel trend which brings artists from different parts of the world closer to share their talent.

If such platforms are created by the State Kala Akademi and organisations like Art Society Manipur, it would be a boon for art lovers in the state, Golmei told NewsFileonline.  

 
Golmei Gandumpu

Online arts conferences

Today, art conferences are organised through webinars.

Online art exhibitions and competitions are being organised in larger numbers than before.

“It appears that artists have been brought closer to each other through the Internet. Such a platform needs to be introduced to the youth here,” he said.  

“In Manipur, only a few online art competitions are being organised. More of such competitions must be organised,” he added.   

Opportunities to display the talent and ideas of students and artists need to be provided in the state during this period to encourage them, Golmei said.

Art exhibitions

He cited the instance of the Online Art Exhibition organised by Nintyanjali Academi, Guwahati, Green Dreams Online National Exhibition on Art and Prof. B.P. Kamboj Memorial International Online Art Exhibition organised by Himprasth, a society for the Arts and Eco-cultural Heritage of Himalayas and Sankar Bharati, Uttarakhand for art exhibitions among others organised during the lockdown.

He also mentioned the competition on the theme New Normal, organised by Saraswati Educational Culture and Charitable Trust, Camel Art Foundation’s Art and Design Contest, 2020.

He said online art camps are also being organised on the net and painters have to upload pictures painted at home in video recordings in the prescribed web pages.  

Artist  biodata 

Golmei Gandumpu did his diploma in art (painting) from Imphal Art College in 1993. He has won several state awards, participated in more than 31 exhibitions and more than 20 camps in the country organised at the international and national level.

Former Manipur chief minister O. Ibobi Singh presented a picture painted by Golmei to former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh during his visit to Manipur in 2012.

His paintings are displayed at the World Virtual Museum.  

He says his paintings are semi-abstract art.

Different perspective

Due to the lockdown, the painter suffers from unavailability of materials, including colours and brushes. He continues painting with what he has.   

“I am trying to paint on the Covid-19 theme, which is very hard to define in art as it has different perspectives. Many of the paintings I have tried so far found to be similar to those painted by others. I am aiming to paint a different picture,” Golmei said.