Mangaluru: Mangaluru’s Kalaangann, run by ‘Mandd Sobhann’, a cultural organisation dedicated to preserving, promoting and enriching Konkani, has got six new cement murals and a central sculpture depicting Konkani culture. Murals and a central sculpture was created by 15 senior sculptors and 12 assistants during a 15-day state-level cement shilpakala camp jointly organised by the Karnataka Shilpakala Academy and ‘Mandd Sobhann’.Louis J Pinto, president of ‘Mandd Sobhann,’ said the central sculpture features a wave and a hand holding a ‘Ghumot,’ symbolising the flow of culture. Surrounding it are 15 symbolic representations of Konkani language, art forms and people, including a depiction of Eric Ozario singing, a woman playing the veena, a poet writing, Siddis beating the Dammam, and a couple dancing to Mando and Baila, among others.Emphasising the promotion of Konkani language, Pinto said the centre works beyond community and religious boundaries, noting that around 40–42 communities speak the language. He added that the murals portray diverse aspects of Konkani culture, including Goan Carnival, Nawayathi Muslims of Bhatkal performing Duff, the car festival of Sri Venkatramanna Temple, migration of Konkani people from the Saraswati river belt, Monthi Fest, and Kudmi folklore.He said this is the second such sculpting initiative at the centre after 2016.Theatre artist and Kalaangann staff member Vikas Lasrado said the murals reflect a wide spectrum of Konkani identity and culture and added that many youngsters are actively participating in programmes at the centre, including monthly theatre performances.Karnataka Shilpakala Academy president MC Ramesh said the site was finalised after inspection and discussions regarding space and arrangements for artists. He said the murals concept was developed with the support of AI, and later transformed into detailed three-dimensional works. Each mural measures around 9 to 10 feet and 6 inches in height, while the central sculpture stands about 15 feet tall, he said.He also noted that this was the first such initiative by the Academy in Mangaluru. Camp director K Narayana Rao, 73, from Shivamogga, who has over 50 years of sculpting experience, said the camp was a special experience and the environment provided strong inspiration to artists.Member convener Kumar Y said artists from different parts of the state, including Kalaburagi and Raichur, participated in the camp. The murals and the sculpture were inaugrated on Friday at Kalaangann, Shakthinagar.
