Bhubaneswar: The ten-day 40th All Odisha Art Exhibition was inaugurated by Odisha Information Commission Dilip Kumar Bisoi, organised by the Odisha Lalit Kala Academy, here at Kalinga Art Gallery on Wednesday. The inaugural ceremony was chired by Odisha Lalit Kala Academy secretary Panchanan Samal. Culture secretary Ranjan Kumar Das, veteran artist Jagadish Chandra Kanungo, and eminent artist Gajendra Sahu graced the occasion as guest of honours.

Adreessing the ceremony, Information Commission Dilip Bisoi said that it was always the exponent of fine arts who had led the trend -be it romanticism, realism or magical realism- in art arena. He said while the two mega art shows- India Art Fair at Delhi and the Kochi Biennial- are overwhelming the art connoisseurs from across the world, the Odisha annual art exhibition with its rich and innovative creations will certainly draw the attention of the art lovers.

The culture director, Ranjan Das said that attempts were being made for sale of art pieces created by Odisha artists. According to a welfare fund would created for artists with portion of sale proceeds.