HILL YOUTHS USE CHARCOAL AND CHALK Darjeeling's rare art display

VIVEK CHHETRI, TT, 23 Feb 2019, Darjeeling: A group of young artists have put up 34 paintings of "charcoal and chalk" in Darjeeling, which many believe was the first such show in the hill town.

Charcoal has been a component of cave painting dating back to almost 28,000 years ago. While many such works have not survived the test of time, Darjeeling was mesmerised by the use of charcoal and chalk.

Dipesh Tamang, a thangka (Tibetan Buddhist painting) artist, along with Rikzin Bhutia (thangka proponent), Yogendra Sharma, Shivam Rai, Sukraj Rai and Bishal Rai, all self-taught artists, and photographer Prashant Pradhan, took nearly two months to come up with their collections.

"We have only seen other forms of Visitors look at the paintings made of chalk and charcoal in Darjeeling works on display in Darjeeling. So, we decided to come up with an exclusive charcoal and chalk work," said Tamang, who trained as thangka at a monastery in Kathmandu.

The artists have mostly used two types of charcoal, vine and willow, to accentuate different shades. Charcoal is stuck on the surface using a fixative. Chalk has been obviously used for the white shade.

"People have enjoyed the display. Almost 50 per cent of our works were sold during the two day exhibition at Capitol Hall last weekend," said Tamang.

Their work largely cantered on culture and Darjeeling. In the coming days, the artists want to come up with shows of other mediums.

The group members who fall in the 21-30 age group have also started holding workshops at different schools.

Darjeeling Arts Culture wants to bring together youths from diverse fields and create a platform for young minds. "We want budding poets, dancers and other artists to come together. We want to organise regular exhibitions and will also work to press for an art gallery in town," said Tamang.