Voices From The Land Of Polo

Art of 30 Manipuri Artists Exhibited at Florida, USA

It is for the first time in the history of Manipur that such a big collection of Artworks of contemporary artists of the State has been exhibited overseas

By Brown Nongmaithem with Thangjam Sanjoo
 

Imphal, March 3, 2019: An extensive and first survey of the contemporary art of Manipur was exhibited at 621 Gallery, Florida, the USA in February 2019. It was the 3rd exhibition held by the R & V Art house. Amused by the paintings, the Florida state university expressed a strong desire to hold a similar art exhibition in the varsity.
 

R & V Art House is a firm founded by Robin Wahengbam and Dr. Vijita Ningombam to create a platform for Manipuri artists so as to showcase their works at National and International levels and to grow as artists.

Along with Manipuri folk music being played in the background, artworks of 30 professional artists of the State of Manipur were displayed during the exhibition. It was opened to the public and attended by art lovers, curators and art collectors from various parts of Florida.

The firm’s main objective is to help in preserving the artworks of many unearthed and known talented artists of the state of the past, present and to take up a step towards solving unemployment problems of artists of Manipur, and in the process, helping them grow in the global platform. Thus the R & V House intended to act as a stepping stone for promoting Manipuri artists. 

Along the above lines and congruently, the R & V Art House in collaboration with Manipuri Folk Music launched its art fête, the first of its kind under the banner “Manipur’s first book of Art / Art Fest 2018 at Hotel Imphal on 9th September 2018 which was inaugurated by the  Speaker of Manipur Legislative Assembly Y Khemchand as Chief Guest.

The theme of the Fest was - ‘Allart works are related to Manipur (Environmentally focused, community-based or dealing with critical issues related to the public)’.

The fest exhibited works of 30 artists, the winner was awarded Rs 50,000 and the remaining 29 participants were awarded Rs 2,000 each respectively. 

Speaking at the event, Y Khemchand lauded the R & V Art House for organizing the unique event, the first of its kind in Manipur.
Recognizing the efforts of art lovers, Y Khemchand said that he will extend his full support to develop and help the artist expose their works in the international arena.

The 2nd exhibition was done outside the state of Manipur at Tata Institute of Social Sciences, TISS Mumbai on 22nd September, 2018. It was the 2nd exhibition by the Art house under the project. 

Co-founder Wahengbam Robin, a renowned artist of Manipur, expressed concern over the lack of books and documents on art history, origin and development of Manipuri art and said that he is in the process of filling the gap with experts and historians.

Co-founder,Dr Vijita Ningombam in her speech said “Although Manipur is a small state with a small population, it has many talented individuals. All we need is support. Thus we should learn to appreciate each other’s talent and give positive feedback and positive criticisms,”.

Fine Art (Graphic) Professor Nirmalendu Das of Shantiniketan Vishwabharti University attended the event as a jury member as well as the president of the event held in Imphal.

Co-founders, Robin WahenbamDr Vijita Ningombam said that they will also be publishing a book, Manipur’s First book of Art which will contain the history of art in the state as well as a compilation of works of contemporary artists.

ROBIN WAHENGBAM
Co-Founder Robin is a well-known artist who has specialized in graphic art. He completed BFA from Visva Bharati University, Santiniketan. He has participated in a number of art workshops and camps. His artworks including paintings in various mediums have been exhibited in various state and national level art exhibitions organized by Academy of Fine arts, Kolkata and Manipur State Kala Academy, Imphal. 
As a creative artist, he has also designed the stage and ambience for Manipur Tourism Sangai Festival. Ambiance and art installation for inter-cultural dialogue between North East India and South East Asia for IGNCA, New Delhi. Production design for Ford Foundation Production Film - ‘Soldiers in Sarong’. 

He has also designed the mascot for the Vth National Games held in Manipur in 1999. He has been honored twice for UGC Educational Films in Animation and Graphic Art in 1998 and 1999. In 2011, he was awarded the Manipur State Kala award. His art collection has been spread around globe like the CARR for Human rights, Harvard Kennedy School, Cambridge, Massachusetts etc. 

It is his passion in the field of art that inspired him to have found R & V Art House along withDr Vijita Ningombam.

Dr.VIJITA NINGOMBAM 
Dr. Vijita has a very well-rounded background that encompasses the creativity of art, the logic of science and the compassion of social work. All of these qualities inspired her to found R & V Art House along with Robin. 

Dr. Vijita’s interest in art began at a very young age. She has painted many canvases and competed at state and national level competitions. Her artwork was selected and published by The Hindu. At the age of nine, she acted in the Manipuri movie Khamba-Thoibi released in 1997, playing the role ofKhamnu who raised little Khamba as a child.

In 2003, she was a model for a documentary film called Phanek for Doordarshan and in 2008, she was the VJ for a TV show for NETV called NE Hi-fi Manipuri Music Countdown. She got offers to go into mainstream Bollywood, but instead chose a fruitful career in medicine. 

She graduated from Utkal University in Odisha in 2010 and later completed a fellowship in Cosmetic Medicine in Apollo Hospital in New Delhi. She is a social activist writer whose articles have been published in The Hindu, Indian Republic News Portal, Imphalfree Press and E-pao.net. She also has a compilation of short stories and articles she writes in a personal blog.