Mysore, June 16- Mysore-based artist M. Girija was presented the prestigious Kushalakala State Award for the year 2008-09 for her unique contribution in the field of art by Home Minister Dr. V.S. Acharya at a function held at Chowdaiah Memorial Hall in Bangalore recently.
The award, instituted by the Karnataka State Handicrafts Department Corporation, comprised a plaque, certificate and cash prize.
Girija has a flair for fine arts, both visual and performance. She had her basic training in model sculpturing by a renowned traditional sculptor affiliated to the Royal Palace and later received training from Kalidas Samman awardee N.R. Sengupta in Shantiniketan style and tutored in gold-leaf Mysore style painting by experts.
During the past few decades, she has been devoting her attention to Mysore style paintings and has acquired deep knowledge by cogent study on this art at temples, religious centres as well as through private collections.
While preserving the intricacies of the original style, she has adopted her own innovative skills and techniques in both design and depiction.
Girija's paintings have been exhibited at Mysore Dasara Exhibition regularly as well as in Karnataka Chitrakala Parishat and Suchitra Art Galleries, World Trade Centre, Mumbai, AIFACS at New Delhi and many other fora. She has been awarded many prizes and commendations within the country as well as abroad.
Girija had an extended tour of the USA where her paintings were exhibited in New York, Washington and Edison, and was featured in TV and News media.
More recently, under the auspices of Sringeri Samsthan Academy, a solo exhibition of her paintings was held at the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, London, UK.
She was a special invitee in several art workshops conducted by august bodies such as Karnataka Lalithakala Academy, Department of Tourism and Heritage, Kannada Sahitya Sammelana etc. She has also taught in the School of Design and executed art work at CAVA and ISKCon.
Her creations have been housed at Sri Sankara Mutt, CAVA, Mathura Temple and many organisations and establishments as well as personal collections.
Girija will be demonstrating her technique and also display her paintings at various centres in Japan during October.
She can be contacted on Mob: 97419-30035 and through email:
Courtesy : Star Of Mysore
