Paintings gather dust, artists say they should be displayed

Bengaluru: Precious paintings by Svetoslav Roerich and the legacy left behind by him and his wife Devika Rani - acknowledged as the first lady of Indian cinema - continue to be under lock and key. The government has done little to develop the Roerich and Devika Rani Roerich Estate Board.
A majority of Roerich's paintings, about 160, are confined to a room in Venkatappa Art Gallery, with the City Crime Branch (CCB) protecting them.While the paintings were supposed to be displayed for the public after the new room was constructed (it has been there for a while now), the artworks continue to be inaccessible to Bengalureans.
"There was a proposal to showcase them. But since they are invaluable, the paintings will remain locked until we complete the museum at the estate. However, they are now kept in a new room," said Ravindranath, a member of the board.
Eshwar Babu Prasad of Karnataka Chitrakala Parishath, however, said: "Any painting or artwork is only complete when another person sees it. The government must allow people to view these paintings in order to enhance their value." Renowned painter Yusuf Arakkal agrees. "The value of any painting diminishes if it doesn't reach people. It will remain private property and may be valuable in terms of money but the real worth is lost," Arakkal said. "I knew him personally. He could have sold the paintings. They were left behind for all of us to see," he added.
With no one heading the estate board, its development has come to a standstill. Even the Roerich-Devika Rani residence, which is under CCB's protection, is out of bounds for commoners. "The things they used - furniture, perfumes, radio - are invaluable. Because the government has to ensure the estate is safe, entry is restricted," said Mohan Kumar, an engineer in-charge of development. The studio, which has the digitized collection of the artist, is also locked. The outhouse is the only place which is not.
The government should consider handing over the estate to the Archeological Survey of India (ASI) if it cannot develop it, Arakkal said. "One must be careful while storing painting which are so old. They cannot be locked up in a room. Exposure to moisture can ruin them," he added.
Sources, however, said regular checks to monitor the quality of the paintings are being carried out.
Who is Roerich
* Having studied under his father Nicholas Roerich, a trained lawyer and an artist himself, Svetoslav lived in India for many years
* Former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru awarded him the International Award and the Padma Bhushan. His paintings of Nehru and former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi adorn the Central Parliament Hall in New Delhi
* His personal life was a closely-watched affair, given his wife Devika Rani's status
Some artworks adorn Parishath
Karnataka Chitrakala Parishath is the only place in the state where some of Roerich's paintings are displayed. It has a collection of 117 paintings donated by Roerich in 1990, which also include some by his father Nicholas. Svetoslav's works range from portraits to depictions of the picturesque Kulu valley.