‘Existence of indigenous visual art in Naga culture since time immemorial’

January 4, 2023 2 Views No Comment

Morung Express News
Dhemaji | January 4

As a second-generation artist, Seyiekelie Tepa grew up watching his father painting, and from his early childhood, he was imitating him whether it was sketching, drawing, painting or making sculptures. “I literally grew up doing art”, he says. This is a part of the journey he recently shared at Chiang Mai University in Thailand on December 26, 2022.

He and his wife, Agnes Tepa were invited to the Art Talk and Seminar on “Contemporary Art Scenario” wherein he spoke about “Exchanging on personal creation and contemporary art in Nagaland” and Agnes Tepa talked about “Exchanging on Naga poetry and personal creations.”

“I love experimenting and so for more than 3 decades, I have been working with different media” he cited during his presentation while highlighting some personal creations of artworks showing different media used. He also touched upon the existence of indigenous visual art in the Naga culture since time immemorial as is evident in sculptures, textile design and other art forms.

Seyiekelie Tepa further talked about the inclusion of Naga cultural elements in his artworks and contextualisation of traditional arts into contemporary art.

Agnes Tepa related that oral tradition has been an aspect of indigenous communication for the people of Nagaland while reading visual poetry from ‘Out of Wonder’, a collaborative book of poems and paintings by the couple. She also emphasized on the power of words to create and read poems.

On attending the art talk and seminar, Consulate General of India, Chiangmai further invited the couple and went on to organise an event in The consulate of India, Chiang Mai, Thailand, called “An evening of Art, Poetry and Music” on December 30, 2022.

The event included a talk on the State’s history by Dr Nikosa Tase, presentation of Painting and Poetry by Agnes and Seviekelie Tepa, traditional & commissional Naga painting, sculpture and woodcraft by Dr Wipawee Panjinda and Robert James, and songs by the immensely talented singers of ‘Naga Youth’.

Source: https://morungexpress.com/existence-of-indigenous-visual-art-in-naga-culture-since-time-immemorial