Patna: Folkartopedia Foundation on Sunday organised its first ‘Baithaki’ — a cultural gathering of visual artists, theatre practitioners, writers and young artists — at the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) Guest House in Patna.
The programme was organised in collaboration with ICCR Patna and coordinated by Folkartopedia Director Sunil Kumar.
The gathering was led by noted theatre practitioner and art writer Anish Ankur along with cultural activist Ravishankar Upadhyay.
Focus on Art Documentation in Bihar
Opening the discussion, Sunil Kumar said the objective of the gathering extended beyond merely bringing artists together.
He stated that the initiative had been launched specifically to encourage academic engagement with the arts, with young artists placed at the centre of the effort.
A major focus of the discussions during the Baithaki was the documentation of Bihar’s artistic and cultural traditions.
‘Documentation Enriches Present and Future’
Speaking at the event, Anish Ankur stressed the importance of documenting art and cultural heritage.
He said documentation not only enriches the present but also enables future generations to understand the cultural realities of their time.
Referring to Pablo Picasso’s celebrated artwork Guernica, he remarked that the painting was not merely a work of art but also a reflection of the historical era in which it was created.
Folkartopedia’s Role Highlighted
Ravishankar Upadhyay said documentation played a crucial role in preserving the artistic journeys of creators and communities.
He noted that Folkartopedia had consistently worked toward documenting folk arts and described the initiative as an important step towards building a comprehensive cultural repository for Bihar.
Artists and Public Figures Participate
The inaugural Baithaki was attended by several artists, administrators and public figures, including:
- Vinay Kumar
- Sushil Kumar
- Yadavendra Pandey
Speaking at the event, Vinay Kumar observed that the absence of proper documentation had made tracing the history of traditions such as Dhrupad singing in Bihar increasingly difficult.
He said documentation was essential for understanding the evolution of both art forms and artists, adding that the subject had historically received insufficient attention.
IPS officer Sushil Kumar described the initiative as an important cultural platform for Patna, enabling artists and literary communities to engage in meaningful discussions about the present and future of the arts.
Mithila, Manjusha and Tikuli Artists Attend
More than 30 artists associated with:
- Mithila painting
- Manjusha art
- Tikuli painting
participated in the gathering.
Among those present were senior Godna artist Shravan Kumar and State Award-winning Mithila artist Mamta Bharti.
Organisers said the Baithaki marked the beginning of a larger effort to create regular platforms for cultural dialogue, artistic exchange and preservation of Bihar’s folk and visual arts traditions.
