Bangalore Events

Bangalore Events Bangalore Events  Bangalore Events Bangalore Events Bangalore Events Bangalore Events Bangalore Events Bangalore Events Bangalore Events

INTACH Chitrakala Parishath Art Conservation Centre (ICKPAC), Bangalore

INTACH Chitrakala Parishath Art Conservation Centre (ICKPAC), Bangalore

ICKPAC was established, in collaboration with Karnataka Chitrakala Parishath, Bangalore, in the latter’s premises, in the year 1993. The Centre was inaugurated by the then Governor of Karnataka, H.E. Khursheed Alam Khan, on 22nd July 1993. The purpose of establishing this Centre was to cater to the needs of Institutions (both Government and private) as well as individuals of this State, for the conservation and restoration of their art collections. Being the only Centre of its kind in Southern India, we have also served the needs of neighboring states like Tamil Nadu by carrying out important conservation projects there. Contact person; Ms. Madhu Rani, Director INTACH Chitrakala Parishath Art Conservation Centre (ICKPAC) Karnataka Chitrakala Parishath Art Conservation Centre Kumara Krupa Road, Bangalore- 560 001. Karnataka State Phone: +91-80-22250418 Fax: +91-80-22250418 Email: ickpac@gmail.com

[tab name="Projects"]

Projects

Conservation of old mural paintings in Thiagaraja Swamy Temple, Tiruvarur, Tamil Nadu. INTACH Chitrakala Parishath Art Conservation Centre (ICKPAC), Bangalore, is currently involved in the conservation of 300-year-old mural paintings in Tamil Nadu. These paintings reportedly dating back to the Nayaka period are on the ceiling of the Devasiriya Mandapam, also called the thousand-pillared hall, in the Sri Thiyagarajaswami Temple at Tiruvarur, about 60 kms from Thanjavur. These vibrant paintings depict the legend of Muchkunda Chola ‘the monkey-faced king’, who is said to be responsible in bringing the idol of Lord Thiyagaraja to Tiruvarur. The painted area is about 6500 sq ft (including a painted panel of a later period on the rear wall of the hall depicting the story of Manu Needhi Chola).

Colors (predominantly red, yellow and white, black, and green) used in these paintings are of mineral origin and the ground is lime plaster. Since the support is granite slabs juxtaposed to each other, the major deterioration problems can be attributed to this arrangement. The deterioration problems are loss of pigment due to water seepage from the roof; deposition of soot, dust, dirt, cement splashes due to human interference (place used as a godown, workplace for preparing paper and bamboo decorations for temple festivals, etc); and growth of biodeteriogens. The conservation work undertaken involves cleaning, soot removal, removal of microbial growth, consolidation of both the ground (lime plaster) and pigment layers, reattachment of the loosened plaster and reintegration. All these steps are being done keeping in mind the minimal intervention theory and by adhering to ethical conservation practices.

Preservation of Palm leaf and paper manuscripts in Karnataka State under National Mission for Manuscripts, (NMM) Govt of India, Department of Culture INTACH ICKPAC has been a nominated Manuscript Conservation Centre (MCC) since 23rd September 2003.

Different repositories of old Palmleaf and Paper manuscripts in the State, including religious institutions like Mutts and educational Centres like Universities are being visited regularly and Preventive conservation of the collections is being carried out. Local staff is trained in Preventive conservation and custodians in the proper maintenance of the collections. Curative conservation of manuscripts is also done whenever necessary. Some of the important Institutions/ Mutts where we have worked are:

  • Dept. of Post Graduate Kannada Studies and Research, Mangalore. (In January 2006, here other that training the library staff and research scholars, the entire collection was also conserved)
  • Jnana Bharati, Bangalore University, Centre of Kannada Studies, Bangalore. (In July/August 2006)
  • Janapadhaloka (Folklore Museum), Ramanagar, Bangalore Rural. (In September 2006)
  • Maharaja Govt. Sanskrit College, Mysore. (January 2006)
  • Keladi Museum, Keladi, Shimoga District. (April 2007)
  • Ramarani Research Centre, Jain Mutta, Moodabidri. Dakshina Kannada District (June 2007)
  • Shri. Ragavendra Swamy Mutta, Chamarajpet, Bangalore. (July 2007 - Ongoing)
  • Shri. Murugarajendra Mutta, Chitradurga (From October 2007 to January 2008)

Conservation and Restoration of Canvas Paintings in Senate House, University of Madras The Senate House of the University of Madras, Chennai, built in the Indo – Saracenic style of architecture is a magnificent edifice situated across the Marina beach. The ceiling of the Great Hall had originally been decorated with 21 Canvas painting panels, each measuring 15.5 ft x 15.5 ft arranged in seven three-tiered rows.

These paintings must have been put in place soon after the completion of the building. Due to the ravages of time and weather in these intervening 130 years, all but three had disappeared. When the renovation project of the Senate House was taken up in 2003, the three existing painted panels were found hanging precariously loose from the ceiling, in a tattered condition.

The conservation and restoration of these canvas paintings in addition to re-creating the 18 missing canvas painting panels was taken up by ICKPAC, Bangalore in order to put them up and to restore the ceiling of the Great Hall to its original glory.

The conservation and restoration of these canvas paintings in addition to re-creating the 18 missing canvas painting panels was taken up by ICKPAC, Bangalore in order to put them up and to restore the ceiling of the Great Hall to its original glory.

Projects taken up by the Centre

  1. Conservation of mural paintings in Nalaknadu Palace, Coorg, Karnataka (September 2007)
  2. Conservation of large Canvas paintings for the Senate House of University of Madras, Chennai. (April 2006)
  3. National Survey of Manuscripts in Karnataka for NMM (November, 2005)
  4. Conservation and restoration of 11 of Portrait paintings of former Dewans of Mysore for Vidhana Soudha, Bangalore (September, 2005)
  5. Conservation and restoration of 4 Portraits for Cheluvamba Hospital, Mysore (September 2004)
  6. Conservation of 700 Botanical Paintings (water color) for the Horticulture Library, Bangalore (2002)
  7. Conservation of mural paintings in Ramalinga Vilasam Palace, Ramanathapuram, for Departement of Archeology, Tamil Nadu (1998)
  8. Conservation of 40 old bronzes for Departement of Archeology, Karnataka (1996)
  9. Conservation of 35 paintings for Venkatappa Art Gallery Govt. of Karnataka (1996)
  10. Conservation of large panel paintings in Mysore Palace (1995)
  11. Conservation of mural paintings in Sri Ranganathaswamy temple, Srirangam, for H. R. & C.E department, Tamil Nadu (1995)
  12. Conservation of mural paintings in Thanjavur Palace, for Dept of Archeology, Tamil Nadu, on the occasion of VIII world Tamil Conference (1994).
  13. Regilding of life size statue of Ranjit Singhji, Jamsaheb of Navanagar and Conservation of a large equestrian bronze statue of first Jamsaheb at Jam Nagar, Gujarat (1994)

[/tab]

[tab name="Workshop & Training"]

Conservation of old mural paintings in Thiagaraja Swamy Temple, Tiruvarur, Tamil Nadu. INTACH ICKPAC have conducted workshops and awareness programmes for the public, art community and connoisseurs in the ‘Care and Preservation of Cultural Property’ in Bangalore. As a result of this, we can see a rise in the keen interest in conservation/ restoration.

  • A lecture series was organized on the occasion of the Tenth Anniversary celebrations of ICKPAC- “Aloka” (19th – 24th July 2003) outlining : (a) Nature of materials, (b) Manufacturing methods of different media- paper, canvas, inks & pigments, etc. (c) Agents responsible for deterioration (d) Preventive conservation methods.

  • Workshop on Care and Preservation of Library and Archival Materials (26th – 29th August 1996).

  • ‘Workshop on Preservation of Art Objects and Library Materials’ (15th – 18th March 1994).

Many other workshops and training programmes were conducted in different parts of Karnataka, the objective being to impart theoretical knowledge and practical training in the Preventive Conservation of manuscripts to persons working on the collections of the Matter as well as people from surrounding area dealing with manuscripts. The contents of lectures and demonstrations in these workshops were:

  1. Nature of palm leaf and methods of processing same for writing purpose.
  2. Manufacturing methods of Paper; properties of paper.
  3. Physico-chemical factors causing deterioration of manuscripts – palm leaf as well as paper.
  4. Biological agents causing deterioration of manuscripts.
  5. Preventive Conservation methods a) Cleaning and maintenance of cleanliness b) Controlling of temperature and humidity c) Prevention of fungal and insect attack d) Proper storage methods e) Disaster management

  • The workshops titled “Workshop on Preventive Conservation of Manuscripts” had been conducted in many venues in the past four years. 1) Ramachandrapura Matta – Hosanagar Taluk, Shimoga District (March 2004). 2) Kannada Sahitya Parishath, Pampa Mahakavi road, Chamarajpet, Bangalore (May 2004). 3) National Institute of Prakrit Studies, Shravanabelagola, Hassan District (September 2004). 4) B.M.Shri. Prathistana, N.R. Colony, Bangalore (October 2004).

Besides the workshops and other training activities described above, our conservators have visited some major manuscript collections in universities and other institutions and imparted training in preventive conservation of palm leaf as well as paper manuscripts to the local staff and students, so that they can continue the work even after the departure of our people and maintain the collections in a proper way.

Some of these collections are:

  1. Puthige Matha, Udupi. (In October 2004)
  2. Govindapai Research Centre, Udupi. (In March 2005)
  3. Kannada Study Centre, Karnataka University, Dharwad. (In May 2005)
  4. Dept. of Post Graduate Kannada Studies and Research, Mangalore. (In January 2006, here other that training the library staff and research scholars, the entire collection was also conserved)
  5. Shrimad Veerashaiva Shivayoga Mandira, Badami. (In June 2006)
  6. Jnana Bharati, Bangalore University, Centre of Kannada Studies, Bangalore. (In July/August 2006)
  7. Janapadhaloka (Folklore Museum), Ramanagar, Bangalore Rural. (In September 2006)
  8. Vedeshwara Study Circle, Library, Gokarna, Karnataka. (In November 2006)
  9. The United Theological College, Bangalore. (December 2006)
  10. Maharaja Govt. Sanskrit College, Mysore. (January 2007)
  11. Keladi Museum, Keladi, Shimoga District. (April 2007)
  12. Ramarani Research Centre, Jain Mutta, Moodabidri. Dakshina Kannada District (June 2007)
  13. Shri. Ragavendra Swamy Mutta, Chamarajpet, Bangalore. July 2007 - Ongoing)
  14. Shri. Murugarajendra Mutta, Chitradurga (From October 2007 to January 2008)
  15. Sri. Dhanashala Mutta, Karkala (from January 2008 to February 2008)
  16. Sri. Uttaradhi Mutta, Bangalore. (From February 2008 to March 2008)
  17. Sri. Shripadaraj Mutta, Bangalore (from March 2008 to June 2008)

Other than these institutions with large collections, our conservators along with completing their conservation work have also trained many private collectors across the state.

[/tab]

[tab name="Events"]

Events

  1. National Survey of Manuscripts in Karnataka Place and Period: All over Karnataka from November 21st to 25th, 2005. (The inauguration was at Karnataka Chitrakala Parishath, Bangalore).

    A public function was held at Chitrakala Parishath on 19th November 2005, to mark the launching of the Survey by H.E. The Governor of Karnataka, Shri. T.N. Chaturvedi, a renowned Sanskrit Scholar, Prof. K.T. Pandurangi, spoke on the occasion and Smt. Sudha Gopalakrishna, Director, NMM was also present. The actual survey was between Nov 21st and 25th, 2005. Towards the survey awareness programmes were arranged in all the districts of Karnataka.

  2. Aloka – Exhibition on Art Conservation, displaying photographs of works of art conserved and restored at ICKPAC, Bangalore as well some original works to mark the 10th anniversary of the starting of the centre. Place and period: Bangalore, from 19th July 2003 to 24th July 2003. The exhibition presented some of the most outstanding works carried out by ICKPAC in the preceding few years and attracted a very large number of visitors, who appreciated the work very much. The occasion also served as an Awareness programme in the Art Conservation because for many of the visitors, the exhibition served as an eye –opener and provided a chance to learn what was being done in this field.

    The exhibition was inaugurated by Shri N. Dharam Singh, ex- Chief Minister of Karnataka. In addition to Shri. T.P. Issar, former Chief Secretary of Karnataka and Chairman of ICKPAC Advisory Committee, Shri. C.S. Kedar, Secretary, Kannada and Culture, Govt. of Karnataka, Shri. H.K. Kejriwal, Trustee of Chitrakala Parishath (CKP), Shri. Chowta, General Secretary CKP, Shri. S.R.Rao, Eminent Archeologist and other dignitaries graced the occasion. There was an enlightened audience for the inaugural function.

  3. 1st Anniversary and Exhibition of Restored Works Place and period: Karnataka Chitrakala Parishath, Bangalore on 21st July 1994.

[/tab]

[tab name="Services"]

Services

All In this period of nearly 16 years that the Centre has been functioning, a large number of paintings of different types including oil paintings on canvas and on bromide-paper, water colours, traditional paintings of the Mysore and Tanjore styles, paintings on glass, miniatures and other art works such as prints from the colonial period to the present; drawings, old bronzes and other metallic objects, wooden sculptures, paper mache articles, leather puppets etc. have been conserved and restored at the Centre both for institutions and individual owners.

In all this time, our Centre has acquired an enviable reputation in the field of art conservation, within the state as well as outside, by virtue of the high standards we maintain and the best publicity has been through word of mouth of completely satisfied clients.

As a result, today we have a steady inflow of enquiries regarding conservation projects in the state and outside and influx of work for art conservation treatment.

Some prominent artists whose works have been treated are: Raja Ravi Varma, Nicholas Roerich, Svetoslov Roerich, Prints by the Daniell Brothers, Rabindranath Tagore, Gaganendranath Tagore, Amritha Shergill, Francis Newton Souza, K.K.Hebbar, Debi Prasad Roy Chaudhari, Binod Bihari Mukherji, Jamini Roy, Jatin Das, Sunil Das, Yusuff Arrakal, M.F.Hussain, Swaminathan, K.G.Subramanyam, Adhi Moolum, Vaikuntam, Redappa Naidu, Surendran Nair, Bose Krishnamachari, Jogen Chaudhary, Karnataka Artists like Hanumaiah, M.T.V. Acharya, M.Veerappa, S.N.Swamy, Nagaraju Raju, Subramanya Raju and others.

[/tab]

[end_tabset]