The Raghurajpur International Art/Culture Exchange (RIA/CE) is an opportunity for contemporary, conceptual, modern, performing artists and all art lovers to exchange ideas and skills with the traditional craftspeople of Orissa, India.
During the 5-week exchange, artists from around the world will have the opportunity to study with master craftsmen and learn traditional skills such as Palm leaf carving ,Stone and Wood carving, Pata Chitra and Tassar Painting, Dhokra (Tribal metal casting), Coir (coconut straw) toy making, Paper Maché mask making, Ganjapa playing card making, 64 drawings of erotica and Cow dung toy making. Performing artists as well can revel in classical dance forms such as as Gotipua, Odisi, and folk forms like Naga, Durga, Horse (chaiti ghoda) dancing, fire dancing (paika akhada) is also covered.
This vast knowledge and these traditional skills can be incorporated into an individual’s practice producing contemporary artwork that addresses concerns with deconstructed forms of traditional craft. It is transformative. In exchange, the international artists will share their ideas about art with the villagers, who can also benefit from this exchange and have it inform their traditional art.
Artworks will be displayed and present the creative results of this artistic exchange. Interaction and collaboration is encouraged. Raghurajpur includes numerous spaces for exhibiting and performing including an outdoor amphitheatre, a gallery space, a river, ponds, the jungle, and groves of ancient trees.
Ten international artists will be selected to participate in RIA/CE . The residency will conclude with an exhibition at a contemporary art gallery in the state’s capital, Bhubaneswar.