OUR INSPIRATIONS

Late Dr. Dinanath Pathy

A God gifted visualizer , a painter by profession worked over thirty years to promote the arts of Odisha globally. Recipient of President of India Silver Plaque for painting, Odisha Sahitya Academy Award for autobiography “Digapahandira Drawing Master”, and Jawaharlal Nehru Fellowship for his research in art, he was nominated for the International Rietberg Award in 2014. He worked as secretary of Lalit Kala Akademi in New Delhi and Bhubaneswar, Art and Craft Curator Odisha State Museum and was the founding principal of the Bibhuti Kanungo College of Art and Crafts. He authored over 50 books in English, Odia and German on classical, traditional, tribal, folk, rural and contemporary art of Odisha.

Late Silpi Guru Shri Gokul Bihari Patnaik

A well known artisan of patta chittra. Recipient of Dharmapada Award (2009) by Govt. of Odisha and National Award in 1968. He introduced scroll painting for the first time in 1963. He had trained a lot of students for the last many years. Some of his ex-students have also received national awards in this art form. He has been inspiration for many students and newcomers to this field. He pioneered Commercially viable Patta Chitra to promote it globally.

Both were Gurus of founder directors and mentored them to fulfil their dream of promoting, preserving and propagating the hidden treasures from the field of Art, Culture and Heritage.