Kolkata's maiden art biennale to showcase global artworks

Over 200 artworks by masters and contemporary artists from Asia, Europe, America and Africa will be on display at the city's first art biennale beginning on April 7, the organisers said.

Christened 'Calcutta Art Biennale-2015', the international art biennale is organised by Roymans Art Studio (London, Calcutta, Ankara) and will include photographs, graphic art, paintings and sculptures.

"For the first time, the city is going to experience the international art biennale from April 7 to April 19. This art biennale is taking place under the license of European Art Society of London," said artist Manas Roy, convenor of the event and founder of the art studio on Friday.

Artworks from famed artists like M.F. Hussain, S.H. Raza, Nandalal Bose, Ramananda Bandopadhyay, Jogen Chowdhury, Alexander Tokarev, John Wieser, Wasim Kapoor and many other Indian artists will be presented in the show, said the convenor.

Roy, whose own creations will be showcased, said the main aim was to provide a chance to many local artists who could not participate in the international art biennales (mainly in Europe) due to unaffordable cost.

"They can now get an opportunity to participate in a global licensed biennale in the city itself and become qualified as biennale artist," Roy said.

Adding to the variety will be projects by visual artists from countries like the Netherlands, the U.K., Turkey, Switzerland, Spain, Germany, Senegal, Uganda, Qatar, Kuwait, USA, and Taiwan. Felicitations and interactive sessions have also been planned, said Roy.

The show will be held at the Birla Academy of Art and Culture.