Srinagar, June 5: A two-day art exhibition ‘Quest for the finest artist of Kashmir’ was on Saturday kick-started at the Institute of Hotel Management Rajbag here. Organised by a group of students the event is aimed to provide a platform to the talented artists of the Valley to bring their art before the world.
 Termed as first of its kind in the Valley by the organisors, the exhibition is supported by J&K Bank, J&K Tourism Department, Jamkash Vehicleades, Khyber Cements and JKCCC.
 “This event is aimed to give a platform to the artists of the Valley to present their art before the world. It will also provide them an opportunity to sell their works,” said the organizers.
 The event is expected to bring forth the hidden and unexplored talent in the Valley. “Side by side this exhibition will also create awareness among the people about the talent we have in the Valley and bring together the budding talent,” the organisers said, adding that they were also arranging the sale of the artists’ works at the exhibition.
 “The people are coming here and recognizing our work. Many of us have already got some good offers. This exhibition has given us a chance to come into direct contact with the admirers of art,” the artists said.
 The organizers, a group of four students, said the response that they got for their group on face book inspired them to hold the event.
 “Four months back we formed a group on face book by the name ‘Kashmir Art Quest’.  We got a good response for it. Later we thought we should organize some event where the talent can be showcased.”
 “We started a website of our own. We got the participants registered under different categories like art, designing like product designing, interior designing, life style accessories, sculpture, applied art, photography etc. After that we got in touch with different organizations to support the event. We got the support from J&K Bank and also found lot of sponsors who appreciated our concept,” they said.  “Fine Arts College Kashmir helped us in short listing the candidates that we had registered for the event. We had received 80 registrations out of which 35 were selected. We have put all of them in different categories and all artists will be judged for their art in their category. The event is not only to identify the local talent but also give importance and recognition to these courses in the Valley which we think is lacking here,” they added.
 At the end of the event one artist will be selected from each category who will be judged as the finest artist of Kashmir.
 “We will have judges from outside who will judge each category and will give awards to the participants in each category. We would be having best artist, best photographer, and best designers and so on,” they said.
 The organizers’ group comprises Arslan Qadri, Mujtaba Rizvi, Uzma Showkat and Adil Abbas.

Lastupdate on : Sat, 5 Jun 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sat, 5 Jun 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sun, 6 Jun 2010 00:00:00 IST