The Thoh Shun Art Camp 2023 was held at the ICSSR premises, NEHU, and saw the participation of 12 artists from Santiniketan Kala Bhavan Praktoni and some artists from Riti Academy of Visual Arts.
The 10-day art camp was dedicated to the memory of the Poet Laureate of Meghalaya, Soso Tham, on his 83rd death anniversary.
The Honorary Director of ICSSR, Prof B Panda, delved into the philosophical aspects of art in relation to society, while Janak Jhankar Narzari narrated the practical situation in the region and stressed on the institutionalisation of art as a forum to further the interest of the fraternity, and to sustain the career prospects of every artist in society.
Meanwhile, the society of alumni of fine arts of Viswa Bharati University, the Santiniketan Kala Bhavan Praktoni has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Riti Academy of Visual Arts, Shillong, for an exchange programme on art for the first phase, which will be continued in future.
As part of the Thoh Shun Art Camp 2023, Riti Academy of Visual Arts hosted the S Quotient Sumer Excellence Award and felicitation ceremony of artists at ICSSR conference room on 24th December 2023.
The Award ceremony was graced by Narzari, President of Santiniketan Kala Bhavan Praktoni and former Principal of Kala Bhavan, Viswa Bharati University. Narzari lauded the effort of the recipient of the S Quotient Sumer Excellence Award, Heibormi Sungoh and acknowledged his contribution to the growth of Khasi literature.
Sungoh is a prolific cultural exponent of Meghalaya with profound knowledge of indigenous Khasi culture and tradition, particularly the Pnar region of the Jaintia Hills. He is also a versatile artist, composer and performer of folk musical instruments, dances including neosis of ceremonial elements of indigenous faith ‘Niamtre’. An author of half a dozen books in the Khasi and English languages, Sungoh has participated in several regional, national and a few international cultural and literary discourses and was actively involved in various cultural and literary organisations, including the North East Zonal Cultural Centre.
