Raghurajpur consists of 140 households where over 350 artists are actively engaged in practicing the art of Patachitra. This quaint village has fostered the talents of 7 recipients of National Awards and more than 10 State Awardees. The community takes immense pride in their age-old traditions, which have been passed down since the 12th Century. In addition to the renowned Patachitra paintings, the village showcases an array of other art forms such as Palm Leaf etching, papier-mâché toys, masks, and cow dung toys.
The artists are not limited to a single medium; they demonstrate their expertise through delicate brushwork on Tussar silk, intricate stone and wood carvings, as well as captivating coconut paintings and adorned boxes. The artists' abodes themselves are a testament to their craft, with meticulously clean stone front porches that double as exhibition spaces and studios. While the majority of painters are men, women play a significant role in various stages of craft production. Women are involved in color preparation, crafting the Chitrapati (the canvas for the paintings), and even engaging in painting itself. Some women, including a State award-winning artist, both paint and pass on their skills to their daughters. Others contribute to coconut painting, papier-mâché work, cow dung toys, and wooden toys.
The enthusiasm for these traditional art forms is not confined by age or gender. The younger generation, irrespective of gender, is increasingly showing interest in preserving and perpetuating these cherished art forms. Notably, several artists from the village have ventured to countries like France, Japan, and England, where they have conducted workshops and shared their craft. The village further extends its artistic reach by welcoming international artists to reside within the village, facilitating an exchange of artistic knowledge and techniques through the Raghurajpur International Art and Cultural Exchange (RIA/CE) initiative.
Some of the notable Pattachitra Artists from Raghunathpur are :
- Raghunath Mohapatra: Renowned for his exceptional skills in Pattachitra and stone carving, Raghunath Mohapatra is one of the most celebrated artists from Raghurajpur. He was also a recipient of the Padma Vibhushan, one of India's highest civilian honors.
- Late Jagannath Mohapatra: Jagannath Mohapatra was a National Award-winning Pattachitra artist known for his intricate and vibrant paintings.
- Gajapati Narayan Deb: Apart from being the titular king of the erstwhile princely state of Puri, Gajapati Narayan Deb was also a skilled Pattachitra artist who contributed to the preservation of this art form.
- Sudarshan Pattanaik: Sudarshan Pattanaik, also known as Sudarsan Pattnaik, is a sand artist, not a Pattachitra artist per se, but he hails from Raghurajpur and has gained international recognition for his sand sculptures and artworks.
- Prasant Kumar Swain: Prasant Kumar Swain is a Pattachitra artist known for his innovative and contemporary approach to this traditional art form.
- Late Padmashree Shyamsundar Maharana: Shyamsundar Maharana was a respected artist who contributed significantly to the promotion and preservation of Pattachitra.
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