Solo exhibition of G Akshaykumar underway
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, December 18 2022: 'Sweet Memories: Memorable events of places of Manipur 2022', which is a solo exhibition of Gurumayum Akshaykumar Sharma, who is known for his fictional comic series 'Makar' published in the Poknapham daily, has begun at the art gallery of department of art and culture, Palace Compound, here, on Sunday.

Lalit Kala Akademi awardee professor Thoidingjam Tombi, Manipur Sahitya Parishad former president professor Nongmaithem Tombi and Imphal Art College former principal Laishram Modhuchandra attended the inaugural function as chief guest, president and guest of honour respectively.

Speaking on the occasion, professor Tombi conveyed his aspiration for having an artists' village like that in Tamil Nadu either in the valley or in the hills of the state, stating that such initiative will help in encouraging the budding artists of the state.

He also said that Akshaykumar's popular work 'Makar' will remain as one of the most famous works of art in the history of the state.

In his address, Akshaykumar said that the late founder of Imphal Art College taught him and his classmates techniques of completing painting quickly during their second year.

They were also taught sketching of live landscapes like Kangjeibung, Nambul River, Ima Keithel and Thong Nambonbi among others.

Following his advice, they practiced to complete such live landscape within two minutes.

During that practice, he drew over 20 live landscapes of Imphal area including Meino Thong, Khongnang Hogaibi, Nupi Keithel, Keishampat Thong and Tombisana School, he said.

For the exhibition, he searched the pencil sketches he made in 1985 and he was lucky to find all the sketches.

His effort is just an attempt to bring his memories of the landscapes on to the canvas.

He made around 15 oil paintings from 1996 to 1997 many of which were incomplete.

He began comic strip 'Makar' from January 1,1998.Since then, he spends most of his times on the comic strip and could not complete his oil paintings, he said.

Akshaykumar further confided that he suffered from Covid-19 in May, 2021.During those days, he took a commitment to complete his oil paintings if he survives the pandemic.

Consequently, he began to work on those paintings from August that year and he is holding the solo art exhibition after a career span of 26 years, he said.

Most of the paintings being exhibited in the event show popular landscapes of the state and their differences between the past and present.

Landscapes of Khwairamband Ima Keithel in the 1950s, street vendors in the late 1960s, first Patriots' Day (13th August) observance at Pheidapung (BT Park) are some of the paintings worth mentioning.

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