Assam: Mask gallery added to Sivasagar's Barna Kutir Artists' Village

Sivasagar: Sivasagar's famous Barna Kutir Artists' Village, an institution known for promoting and showcasing local art and handicrafts, has recently added a mask gallery to mark the celebration of its 18th anniversary. The new mask gallery was inaugurated by Sangeet Natak Akademi deputy secretary Rajiv Das.

While talking about the gallery, Sujit Baruah, an artist and founder of Barna Kutir Artists' Village said, "The traditional masks in a variety of sizes and shapes would be an additional draw for tourists who could buy them if they wanted." He also said that the masks showcased in the gallery will have decorative value and are small enough for tourists to be carried inside purses or suitcases by suitcases. 

Sujit Baruah, who is also assisted in his ventures by his wife Sikhasmita, further revealed that the Artists' Village authorities are going to organise a 20-day project starting January 11 for product development of masks under the development Commissioner of handicraft. The project which will train ten artisans in the art of making masks is believed to be a boost and add value to the recently added gallery.

As narrated by Baruah himself, the project will deal with teaching how to design a mask, make it a miniature and add other infusions while retaining its traditional look. The masks would then be exhibited in the gallery and sold.

Baruah further informed that two officers from Majuli and Sivasagar tourism departments who attended the ceremony affirmed that Barna Kutir would be included in the tourist map of Sivasagar district. 

Notably, the Artists' Village was inaugurated by Jnanpith Awardee and Assam's famous litterateur late Mamoni Raisom Goswami. 

Speaking of the impact of the Covid pandemic on the footfall and activities of Barna Kutir, Baruah expressed that this year had been less eventful as compared to other years. However, the addition of the mask gallery can be considered as an important highlight of the year.

The Artists' Village is located at Gohain Ali which is about 1.5 km off NH 37 and about 7 km away from Sivasagar town. The two-storeyed complex built in the eight-bigha paternal lands of Sujit Baruah now has an art gallery, a library, artists' residence, an academy centre, an open-air theatre, a traditional mask-making and training centre and gallery, and northeast region cultural traditional centre and a museum.

Every year, Barna Kutir organizes several exhibitions, art competitions and workshops for students and amateurs seeking to learn different arts.

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