Mangaluru: Konkani Sahitya Academy President Roy Castelino said that it would be so, although, “The 200-odd programmes conducted by the Karnataka Konkani Sahitya Academy in the last two-and-a-half-years might have been forgotten the very next day or after a few days.”

Addressing a gathering at the valedictory of the camp at Kalaangann on Sunday, he said that the camp has established a strong bond between two academies.

Stating that the sculptures of full of life, Castelino was all praise for artistes who worked day and night to complete the task.

Earlier, Shilpakala Academy president Mahadevappa Shambhulingappa Shilpi explained the importance and significance of sculptures. Stating that art is a penance and is achieved only through hard work and dedication, he said that artists get real honour when their art is recognised.

A total of 10 senior artisans along with 10 junior artisans have created, in 15 days, 15 cement sculptures depicting various Konkani communities. The sculptures include: a Chariot (Ratha) depicting the famous car festival of Gowda Saraswat Brahmins; Manddo dance of Goans (two sculptures); Zagor Lok Kala from Goa (2); Siddi Dummam (dance from Uttara Kannada) (2); Siddi woman (from Uttara Kannada); Gumatt and Baila (2) of the Christian community; Gummat of Kudumbi community (percussion instrument); Duff of Navayithi community of Bhatkal; Thonniyo, a form of stick dance by Kharvi community of Uttara Kannada.

The senior artisans included Murugaiah J Hiremat, K Vinayak, Naveen Kumar B, Parashuram Rajakannavar, Kumar K G, Madhu H P, Basavaraj Hiregowdar, Rakesh R, B S Kumaraswamy, and Somashekaraiah I D. The junior (assistants) artists included Revanna Siddappa B Kalashetty, Hanumanth S Mirugele, Kemparaju K G, Anand Kumar, B H L Yelukoti, Kiran Devarshi, Vivek M Hugar, Sandeep B Kanchagar, Bharat Chari and Santhosh Vaddara.

Besides all the artisans, camp director Gourishankar B G were felicitated on the occasion. Mandd Sobhann President Louis J Pinto, Gurkar Eric Ozario, Shilpakala Academy Registrar Indramma H V and convenor Dr Virupaksha B Badiger among others were present.