Lucknow – Uttar Pradesh’s rich Bhojpuri folk art will find a prominent place at the first national exhibition of folk paintings, to be held in Patna, Bihar, from April 18 to 20, at the College of Arts and Crafts. The event, titled “Festival of Folk Traditions”, is being organized by the Fokartopedia Foundation.
As part of this prestigious exhibition, two artworks each by renowned UP-based folk artists Kumud Singh and Vandana Srivastava will be on display, showcasing the vibrant hues and narratives of Bhojpuri culture. The exhibition will feature 60 artworks by 35 folk artists from 10 Indian states, including Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Goa, and Andhra Pradesh.
Notable personalities from Uttar Pradesh such as Bhupendra Kumar Asthana, Kumud Singh, and Vandana Srivastava will participate in this three-day cultural event. Dr. Vandana Sehgal, Dean and Principal of the Faculty of Architecture and Planning, Lucknow, has been invited as the Guest of Honour.
Kumud Singh, a member of the Uttar Pradesh Institute of Folk and Tribal Culture, Lucknow, and former Head of the Drawing & Painting Department at Saket PG College, Ayodhya, has played a significant role in preserving Bhojpuri folk traditions through her artwork.
Fellow artist Vandana Srivastava, originally from Devalas village in Mau district, has been conferred the Senior Fellowship by the Ministry of Culture, Government of India for her outstanding contributions in the field of art and culture. Her works beautifully depict the traditions, lifestyle, and deep-rooted philosophies of Bhojpuri society. Her paintings have brought Bhojpuri culture to national and international recognition.
The event will also feature panel discussions and interactive sessions on the present-day challenges faced by folk art traditions. Director of Folkartopedia, Sunil Kumar, highlighted the importance of creating awareness and engaging the younger generation with traditional folk art practices. He emphasized that Bhojpuri art, native to both Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, is now on the verge of extinction and such exhibitions are crucial in reviving public interest.
The national exhibition will present a rich tapestry of folk art forms including Bihar’s Godna, Manjusha, and Mithila paintings; Madhya Pradesh’s Gond, Bhil, and Godna art; Jharkhand’s Kohbar-Sohrayee and Oraon paintings; Maharashtra’s Warli art; Rajasthan’s Phad and Pichwai paintings; Karnataka’s Chittara art, and the endangered Surpur line drawings. The exhibition will also host works by artists from Nepal and Singapore, marking its international scope.
In addition to the exhibition, Folkartopedia will organize two Osara Talks and a Folkartopedia Forum, providing a platform for artists and cultural stakeholders to deliberate on issues affecting folk arts today.
Founded in 2021, Folkartopedia is one of the first private initiatives in the Hindi belt aimed at creating a digital archive of Indian folk art. The organization has been actively involved in the documentation, preservation, and promotion of traditional art forms, and has been capturing the stories of veteran folk artists through audiovisual mediums to preserve India’s cultural heritage for future generations.
