State chief minister, Neiphiu Rio on Saturday stressed on the need to protect and promote the rich culture and tradition of the Nagas through art.
Rio said since from the ancient time, the expression of one’s culture and tradition had been expressed through arts, music and dance. In this regard, he called upon the participants to express their feelings through their works and also to become professional artists.
According to DIPR report, the chief minister said this while gracing the valedictory programme of TaFMA Art Residency at Tuophema Village as the guest of honour.
Rio also expressed gratitude for choosing “Tourist Village” Tuophema to be the host of the first art residency camp.
He recalled that the Tourist village was inaugurated by the then chief minister, Dr. S. C Jamir in 2001, celebrating the Sekrenyi and from that day Tuophema Village and Ugma Village developed a friendship till today.
Drawing inspiration from Korean culture and work ethics, Rio said, with the diverse characters of the Nagas, younger generation should live positively and find a way out on how to survive with the culture and tradition and as a people.
Rio also appreciated the work of the artists and shared his experience of collecting arts in various art exhibitions inorder to encourage the artists and also to promote Naga art and its motives. He however pointed out the importance of art pricing, which needed to be reasonable and called upon the artist to first earn the trust and recognition of the people before pricing.
Further, with the start of the Art Residency at Tuophema, Rio hoped that the TaFMA would continue to promote the young artists and master artists to get into the profession and to build up to the commercial scale. He encouraged the artists, who are empanelled with TaFMA to become better as professionals, and to young students to become professionals like the master artists.
Rio also gave away the prizes and certificates to the winners of the Art competition where Kevikhrietuo won the first prize, while Viseduo and Ruduozelie Kense bagged the second and third prizes.
Advisor to CM, Abu Metha extended gratitude to chief minister for his constant support towards the artists’ community.
On TaFMA Art Residency, Abu said the first art residency started with an aim to bring the master artists in one place and to reach out to the local community.
He said one of the earliest hobbies of human being was art, when there were no written words, no alphabets, where history was told in the form of art.
Therefore, he called upon the artists to know the power they hold to influence people’s mind and to grow up as a responsible citizen and tell positive story of Nagaland to the outside world.