Field Trip to Birla Academy of Art and Culture

The Department of History, Loreto College, Kolkata organised a field trip to the Birla Academy of Art and Culture on December 13, 2024 for students of Semester I and Semester III. The Senior Curator of the Birla Academy provided the students with some insightful information that helped them to understand and explore the intricate designs of the Gandhara School of Art and how its features are different from the "graceful posture of Buddha" in the Mathura School of Art. The gallery on the first floor displayed the mysterious sculpture of Ekanamsha, the interesting depiction of the Greek mythological character Atlas in Gandhara art, as well as a variety of sculptures ranging from the women figurines of the first century BCE to the depiction of Parvati in the late Vijayanagar Empire of the 14th century CE. This was followed by the exhibition of Miniature Paintings from the Mughal Era on the third floor. It also showcased Kantha Textiles from late 19th century Bengal. There was a painting exhibition of the works of T. K. Padmini on the fifth floor, and the colourful strokes on the canvas made it hard to believe that the artist had no formal training in her early years. The second floor also featured a fascinating exhibition on "Illustrating the Nagas" by Pablo Bartholomew. The Basanta Kumar Art Gallery exhibited notable works such as the "Urban Genesis". The faculty and students of the Department of History enjoyed a day filled with passion, designs, stories, and histories. It was not only a great academic field trip but also an opportunity to see, listen, observe, and learn.