'Painters of Kanchenjunga' come to town

GANGTOK, 06 March: An exhibition of works by the 'Painters of Kanchenjunga', Nicholas Roerich and Svetoslav Roerich opened to the public on Saturday evening at the First Floor, Rachna Books.

Nicholas Konstantinovich Roerich was a Russian artist, writer, philosopher with a love for travelling, who, during the 1920s, initiated a treaty for the protection of cultural product and activity of the world, both during war and peace known as the Roerich Pact. The Roerich family first came to Darjeeling in 1923 when it was still a part of Sikkim. They travelled around West Sikkim, visiting old monasteries of Pemayangste, Sangachoeling and Tashiding. Nicholas, besotted and inspired by the beauty of the Kanchenjunga, painted three series of canvas between 1924 and 1925. Out of the 7000 paintings by the artist, 4000 have the Himalayas as their subject.

Svetoslav Roerich, the youngest son of Nicholas and Helena Roerich, joined his family in Sikkim in 1928. An architect, painter, botanist, he was also recognised as a fine portraitist and landscape painter. He founded the International Roerich Memorial Trust in Bangalore and the College of Fine Arts, Bangalore University. Around four of his paintings are on display at the exhibition.

The family continued their travels through Central Asia, returning to India on and off. Nicholas Roerich died in Kullu in 1947 and in 1949, Helena and George Roerich, the eldest son, settled down in Crookety House in Kalimpong. Helena died in October 1955 and was cremated on Durpin Dara hill.

In 1928 the family established the Urusvati Himalayan Research Institute in the Kullu valley, Himachal Pradesh.

The exhibition which is hosted by Darjeeling Goodwill Centre will be on till 18 March. Post cards of the paintings, posters, and books are also on sale at the exhibition. Speaking to media persons at the exhibition yesterday, Fiorenza, informed that, a museum is being set up at the Crookety House, Kalimpong in collaboration with the Darjeeling Goodwill Centre, of which she is the Co-ordinator.