Visitors at the exhibition at Jayadev Bhavan in Bhubaneswar. Pictures by Sanjib Mukherjee

Bhubaneswar, May 13: Poetry found expression on canvas as artists paid tribute to poet Jayadev through a painting exhibition inaugurated at Jayadev Bhavan here today.

Ten professionals and an 11-year-old paid tribute to the poet, whose birth anniversary coincides with Akshaya Tritiya.

Jayadev’s Geeta Govinda, the poetic magnum opus on the love between Krishna and Radha, inspired the paintings that depicted the couple in various manifestations, such as overlapping faces or sitting in the lap of nature. The artworks, mostly oil-based, were created at a five-day art camp under the guidance of painter Chintamani Biswal that concluded on Sunday. It was held at Ekamra Haat and organised by cultural organisation Kalpataru Art and Crafts.

(Top) Paintings of child artist Subhranshu Mishra on display and another artwork at the exhibition

Biswal said the theme was connected to Jagannath culture. “Legend has it that devadasis (temple dancers) sang Geeta Govinda in praise of Lord Jagannath. Our tradition and culture is synonymous with the deity. This small endeavour seeks to reflect our devotion and aims to highlight the significance of the epic work of Jayadev,” said the 32-year-old artist.

Eleven-year-old Shubhranshu Mishra, a child prodigy and student of Biswal, was given a separate section in the exhibition. He displayed his oil paintings on Jayadev, sketches on nature and watercolours on rural landscapes. The exhibition had around 30 creations by senior artists while the youngster exhibited 40 of his artworks. “He learnt drawing and writing simultaneously,” said Surjya Narayan Mishra, father of Shubhranshu, who won the first prize in a national painting competition on water conservation organised earlier this year by the Union ministry of water resources.

The organisation also held a drawing competition for children. More than 100 kids participated in three different categories — sub-junior (up to Class I), junior (Class II to IV) and senior (Class V to VII).

The contest required children to sketch on the theme of Jagannath culture. “Nowadays, kids are taught the Italian style of drawing and even French pronunciation. They are getting alienated from their own culture,” said Biswal.