Mysore/Mysuru: Mysore Art Gallery and Ramsons Kala Pratishtana had jointly organised the Birth Centenary Celebrations of artist MTV Acharya on Jan. 31 at Ramsons, in front of Zoo.

University of Mysore Vice-Chancellor Prof. G. Hemantha Kumar inaugurated the artworks of MTV Acharya by paying floral tributes to the portrait of the late artist.

Speaking after the inauguration, Prof. Hemantha Kumar lauded both organisations for celebrating the life of the Mysuru-born artist who has contributed immensely to the world of Indian art through his creations.

Gallery Founder L. Shivalingappa spoke on the occasion about his 25 long years of association with MTV Acharya. He fondly recalled that he was one of the first students of the Acharya Chitrakala Bhavana (ACB), a first of its kind art correspondence course in Karnataka founded by MTV Acharya.

Shivalingappa was pensive when he narrated the hardships and oppositions from the peers that Acharya had to go through to establish ACB in 1969. After the death of Acharya in 1992, Shivalingappa captained the ACB for almost 15 more years and had to shut shop because of dwindling students, he reminisced.

Ramsons Kala Pratishtana Secretary R.G. Singh gave his presidential address with the help of a multimedia presentation. Singh narrated the artistic journey of MTV Acharya showing latter’s sketches as a student of Chamarajendra Technical Institute (CTI) and the paintings that he did for the cover pages of ‘Chandamama’ monthly children’s magazine from 1948 to 1953 and then again from 1957 to 1963. 

Singh also showed the paintings Acharya did for the calendars of Davanagere Cloth Mills and his other famous paintings like Gruhalakshmi, Waiting, Gada Yuddha, Lakshmi’s Exit, etc.

The event was elegantly organised with the display of artworks and the speeches which helped audience to appreciate the life and artistry of the artist MTV Acharya who has remained unsung even today. The exhibition of the artworks was open for public until 6 pm at the venue.

Dr. Jamuna Rani Mirle was the Master of Ceremony. The event and the exhibition was well-attended by art connoisseurs, artists and art students.