GUWAHATI, Aug 7 � Affirming that art is not just a work to be viewed in the comfort of an air-conditioned gallery, but is a powerful medium to voice the pain and angst of the common people, young artists Sujit Baruah and Sikhasmita Baruah today raised the demand for peace in conflict-hit BTAD areas through paint and brush near Cotton College.
The couple expressed their concern over violence in BTAD areas on a canvas measuring around 200 feet and even collected signatures of the individuals who came out to support their endeavour.
Talking to The Assam Tribune, Sujit said that he wanted to do something different by involving the common man in his work.
�It is customary for an artist to put his/her signature on the accomplished art. But this time, I did not want to put my signature alone on the art work. So we decided to come to Guwahati and do this work before the historic Cotton College,� said Sujit, adding that today�s art work did not just belong to him but to the public who put their signatures on it supporting his cause.
Students of Cotton College and passers-by stopped to watch the artist couple at work. The lines and figures that took shape on the canvas clearly reflected the sufferings of the violence-affected people in BTAD areas.
However, the work apart from highlighting the miseries of the violence-affected people, also called for protecting the indigenous communities whose very existence has been threatened by unabated influx from Bangladesh.
�We artists also have a responsibility towards the society. When the State is burning, we cannot opt for the ivory tower. I firmly believe that art can bring the desired changes in the society,� said Sujit, pointing out that art should carry the message to the society. Sujit hoped that his fraternity would be able to bring peace in the State through the medium of colours.
The couple plans to present the art work to the Governor of Assam as an appeal from the people to do the needful at this hour of crisis.
