SHILLONG:
The annual ceremony of the Crystal Gayle Memorial Award 2022 was held at Raj Bhavan Durbar Hall, Shillong on Friday in commemoration of the fifth death anniversary of a theatre artiste Crystal Gayle Kharnaior.
The ceremony was graced by R V Warjri (retired ambassador) as chief guest, N Munish Singh, Zonal Director, Indian Council for Cultural Relations, Shillong and A Lakiang, deputy secretary to the governor Satya Pal Malik.
Recalling his tenure as ambassador in a few Europe countries, Warjri said, “The revolution in Europe during the different phases of history occurred because of the art movement in different expressions of music, visual arts, theatre and literature. The Renaissance is one of the major art movement during the fourteenth century that created tremendous impact and percolated down across the globe.”
While lauding the effort of the Riti Academy of Visual Arts, Warjri said the indigenous conceptualisation of art is essential to preserve the natural resources and biodiversity and urged upon the tribal people to assert more to conserve their land rather than to claim and demand for their rights.
The Crystal Award 2022 for excellence in visual arts was bagged by Phaibhakupar Kharlukhi for his extensive experience in both photography and painting. His artworks emphasise on the natural landscapes interspersed with the elements of folk culture and intellectual presentation of the exotic characteristics of the society in the countryside.
The ward was conferred by Warjri in the presence of Raphael Warjri, Chief Creative Director, Riti Academy of Visual Arts besides the other guests.
A soulful tribute song was also presented by Dalariti and her band members.
The guest of honour, Munish Singh recalled his association with Riti Academy and his personal encounter with Crystal Gayle as a theatre artiste.
The welcome address was delivered by Raphael Warjri as he expressed gratitude to the governor, who could not attend the ceremony because of ill health. Warjri along with the art fraternity conveyed their wishes for his good health. He emphasised on the need to set up an art institution in the state, even as he reiterated that it conforms to the mandate of the present National Education Policy.