Street Art and Mural Project infuse hockey spirit

Bhubaneswar:1/11/18: A national flag represents the essence of a nation’s culture and its presence is always a force to evoke the national pride. With 16 nations fighting it out at the “Maha kumbh” of hockey in Kalinga Stadium Hockey Complex from November 28, the Street Art and Mural Project (STAMP) has taken up the colours of the flags to paint the boundary wall of the stadium complex and in front of it to fill the arena with spirit of hockey.Led by individual visual artist Gopal Krushna Rath and his team of 30 professional artists, students and artist volunteers, the entire area has taken a place of mini “hockey world” as the profile images of 16 captains of the participating nations are also going to add to the charm of the visual treat on the walls through STAMP, which has made the beautification initiative of the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC), a unique venture.

Gopal, a master degree holder in Visual Arts from Utkal University of Culture, had also contributed immensely at the same locations last year during the Asian Athletic Championships in Kalinga Stadium. A seasoned artist with a master touch with the brush, his works are also seen art collections of RPG Group of Industries, New Delhi and Bhubaneswar, Sutra Foundation Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, IIT Kharagpur, Utsha Foundation, Bhubaneswar and many other private collections in India and abroad. He had also had shows in Indonesia and Malaysia.

Nigam Patra, a photographer and art and culture enthusiast said “as the deadline approaches and the entire area is taking shape of an international sports arena, the wall paintings by the artists under STAMP are ornamenting them quite a bit. I like the flow of the art on the wall here.”