Tuesday 12 March 2013

Prakash Kumar Meher, Artist's Profile


PRAKASH KUMAR MEHER

Personal LIfe:
Prakash Kumar Meher (born: 15-June-1981), is an Artist (painter) of Western Odisha. He was born in Sonepur town of Odisha and present resident at Bolangir town of Odisha state INDIA. 

He is the elder son of renowned artist couple Padmashri Kailash Chandra Meher & Smt. Laxmi Meher. He is brought up in a family where whole family members are artist of national reputation. The members of his family got many State & National awards. He devoted his whole study period to help his father to achieve their ambitions. He has planned to impart training on painting to establish them as self dependent. So he left his higher education for giving time to help poor through social organizations. 


Career:
He was inclined to painting from childhood and most of their leisure was spent on paintings. He deviated in research work for the traditional method of painting and gave a new dimension to this art, by using fabric paint over Tassar silk cloth. 

He has participated in a number of art exhibitions inside India and Abroad. From time to time his paintings are highly valued by the visitors in exhibitions. His sincerity and dedication to art brought him the Master Craftsman National Award in 2001 from HE the President of India on Tassar Patta Painting craft, titled "Tree of Life". 

Receive National Award from HE the President of India in 2001
Prakash Meher with former Prime Minister of India 
Normally Patta Painting is painted widely in the temples of western Orissa. Subsequently the painting was made over tassar cloth. It was accepted by the India high society for interior wall decoration. But it was not long lasting, so the demand on this painting came down. Sri Kailash Meher was encouraged by Smt Pupul Jayakar the cultural advisor to the Prime Minister and gave a new look to the traditional painting by using chemical colour and technique of Patta painting on “Tree of Life”. His both son Prakash and Jayanta adopted the same method to paint the same.

Prakash Meher during work at home.
Tassar Patta Painting is the oldest popular traditional Orissa painting. Previously it was painted for Lord Jagannath Temple for the occasion of car festival. The Western part of Orissa traditional painting meant for local festival. Also it was being appreciated by Indian Rajas, Maharajas and aristocrats in ancient days for interior wall decoration. Traditional method of painting was delicious, much more intricate and time taking method.

This craft in ancient time was painted over a palm leaf. But here he has used Tassar cloth instead of palm leaf and chemical colour in place of locally prepare earth colour. The handloom Tassar cloth pasted tightly on ply with hand made gum, and is made polished by rubbing in hand & is used for painting. The 'Tree of Life' painting by itself is a sophisticated painting and needs utmost care in painting. A single piece of painting takes months together. A slight carelessness may spoil the entire painting. 

Prakash Meher's Tree of LIfe painting.
Prakash Meher's Tassar Patta Painting
Group birds painting of Prakash Meher

Participate in Abroad Exhibition:

Portugal in 2004
The President of India approved the deputation of Prakash Kumar Meher in craft of Pattachitra painting for live demonstration in the "Portuguese National Handicrafts Fair" from 24th July to 8th August, 2004 being organized by Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts, New Delhi in association with Embassy of India, Lisbon (Portugal).

Mr. Meher is demonstrating at Portuguese Fair
Prakash Meher at Great Wall of Portugal. 
Oman in 2009
His second participation in the Muscat Festival 2009 held in the capital city of the Sultanate of Oman from 19.01.2009 to 12.02.2009 under the auspicious of Muscat Municipality. He was part of the India Pavilion at the International Crafts Market. The three-week long extravaganza drew an estimated crowd of 2.5 million domestic and international visitors. Those who visited the India Pavilion were highly appreciative of the craftsmanship of Mr. Prakash Kumar Meher. Mr. Meher also demonstrated his craftsmanship to the distinguished invitees at the National Day Reception hosted by His Excellency Anil Wadhwa, Ambassador of India to the Sultanate of Oman at the Embassy premises on the occasion of the 60th Republic day of India. 


  
Colombia in 2009
His third participation in "Expoartesania 2009" Bogota, COLOMBIA from 7th-20th December 2009 for live demonstration cum retail sales of Tassar Patta Chitra paintings. This was his one of the successful programme in abroad. 
Prakash Meher at Bogota the capital city of Colombia. 
Mr Meher showing his painting to 1st lady (wife of the President of Colombia).
England in 2011
His fourth participation in the Annual British International Autumn Fair, held at the National Exhibition Centre, Birmingham from 4th-7th Sept, 2011. His stall displaying the Pattachitra painting at the Indian pavilion was well presented and appreciated by the visitors to the Exhibition. 
Prakash Meher at London in 2011.
Prakash Meher at Tower Bridge of London, UK.
Prakash Meher at Annual British International Autumn Fair, Birmingham, UK.

Prakash Kumar Meher's  official sites to visit:-
1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prakash_Meher 
2. http://themecrafts.in/BusinessEntity/PRAKASH_KUMAR_MEHER-fr-FR-477.aspx
3. http://handicrafts.nic.in/awards/na2001.htm


12 comments:

  1. Very good.. keep it up bhai :)

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  2. It's Interesting...Good Works...Impressive...Sweet Memories...

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  3. nice pic.n profile .........prakash carry on........

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  4. Hello Prakash, I would like to discuss an art project that I am working with for the US and European market, as well as a social enterprise which I work with in India. Please let me know how I can contact you. My email is lesliehammondno@yahoo.com. Best Regards

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  5. Good job Bhai..
    Wishing you all the very best for future.

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  6. Good job Bhai..
    Wishing you all the very best for future.

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  7. I had no clue that I was studying with such an intelligent and wonderful craftsman
    All these time my thought was ... I am the best

    I always knew that there is something in you... But I didn't know what it was

    Kudos bro for all your fantastic work, specifically the "TREE OF LIFE"


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    ReplyDelete
  8. I had no clue that I was studying with such an intelligent and wonderful craftsman
    All these time my thought was ... I am the best

    I always knew that there is something in you... But I didn't know what it was

    Kudos bro for all your fantastic work, specifically the "TREE OF LIFE"


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    ReplyDelete