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{{distinguish|text=[[Faculty of Technology and Engineering, Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda|Kala Bhavan, Baroda]] or with [[Kalabhavan]], [[Kochi]]}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=December 2018}}
{{Primary sources|date=September 2019}}

{{Infobox residential college
| name = Kala Bhavana
| image = Kala Bhavan, Santiniketan.jpg
| caption = Kala Bhavana, Santiniketan
| scarf =
| university = [[Visva-Bharati University]]
| full_name =
| latin_name =
| motto =
| founder = [[Rabindranath Tagore]]
| named_for =
| previous_names =
| established = 1919
| sister_college =
|
| undergraduates =
| graduates =
| endowment =
| location = [[Santiniketan]], West Bengal, India
| coordinates = {{coord|23.6815|N|87.6829|E|display=inline,title}}
| location_map =
| colours =
|logo =
| website = [http://www.visvabharati.ac.in/KalaBhavana.html Kala Bhavan official website]
}}
'''Kala Bhavana''' (Institute of Fine Arts) is the fine arts faculty of [[Visva-Bharati University]], in [[Shantiniketan]], [[India]]. It is an institution of education and research in [[visual arts]], founded in 1919, it was established by [[List of Nobel laureates|Nobel laureate]] [[Rabindranath Tagore]].

==History==
Kala Bhavana was established in 1919.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/10603/133152/8/09_chapteriv.the%20presence%20of%20women%20in%20the%20institutionalised%20space%20and%20their%20interventions%20-%20kala%20bhavana(1920-1930).pdf| title =The presence of women in the institutionalized space and their interventions: Kala bhavana (1920-1930) |work= Page 177| publisher = Shodhganga |access-date = 11 September 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/delhi/2019/sep/06/100-years-of-shantiniketans-kala-bhavana-2029677.html | title =100 years of Shantiniketan's Kala Bhavana | publisher = The New Indian Express, 6 September 2019 |access-date = 11 September 2019}}</ref> Although art historians have not been able to determine its exact date of foundation, it celebrated its centenary in 2019.<ref name="ht">{{cite web | url = https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/rabindranath-tagore-s-art-school-kala-bhavan-set-to-turn-100/story-SsohSATb1kNIR5YRASG4xJ.html| title =Rabindranath Tagore's art school Kala Bhavan set to turn 100 | date =11 November 2018 | publisher = Hindustan Times, 11 November 2019 |access-date = 25 August 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/art/kala-bhavana-100-years-of-the-arts-school-founded-by-tagore/article30358021.ece|title=Kala Bhavana: 100 years of the arts school founded by Tagore|last=Ghosh|first=Bishwanath|date=2019-12-21|work=The Hindu|access-date=2020-01-12|language=en-IN|issn=0971-751X}}</ref> [[Asit Kumar Haldar]] was an art teacher at Santiniketan Vidyalaya from 1911 to 1915 and was in charge of Kala Bhavana from 1919 to 1921.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.visvabharati.ac.in/AsitkumarHaldar.html| title = Asitkumar Halder (1890-1961) | publisher = Visva Bharati |access-date = 25 August 2019}}</ref>{{Better source needed|date=September 2019}} In 1919, when it first started functioning, it started teaching music and art. By 1933, the two streams were separated into two different schools, Kala Bhavana and [[Sangit Bhavana]]<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.visvabharati.ac.in/file/English-Chapter-I.pdf| title = From Bharmacharyashrama to Visva-Bharati: A Chronicle of Metamorphosis of a Tiny School into an Internationally-Acclaimed Centre of Learning| publisher = Visva Baharati |access-date = 26 August 2019}}</ref>{{Primary source inline|date=September 2019}}

Upon its establishment in 1919, Tagore invited noted painter [[Nandalal Bose]], a disciple of [[Abanindranath Tagore]], founder of the [[Bengal school of art]] movement, to become first principal of the institution.<ref>[[#Ch|Chaitanya, p. 170]]</ref> In the coming years stalwarts like [[Benode Behari Mukherjee]] and [[Ramkinkar Baij]] became associated with the college, and in time gave a new direction not just to the institution but also to [[modern Indian painting]].<ref>[[#Ch|Chaitanya, p. 219]]</ref> At Santiniketan, the ideas of Rabindranath Tagore on art and teaching continued for a long time as a monumental model. Subsequently, they developed in the art arena of Santiniketan, the three pillars of ideas – Nandalal Bose, Benode Behari Mukherjee and Ramkinkar Baij.<ref>{{cite book | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=teLtAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA13| title = Memoir of an Artist|work= Amitabh Sengupta, Page 13| date = 26 June 2014| publisher = Patrige India/ Google | isbn = 9781482821260|access-date = 11 September 2019}}</ref> They together raised Santiniketan to a level of unique eminence in the field of modern art in twentieth century India.<ref>{{cite book | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=qG4_BAAAQBAJ&pg=PP38| title = Memoir of an artist|work=Amitabh Sengupta | publisher = Patridge Publishing India |access-date = 23 August 2019| isbn = 9781482821253| date = 27 June 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SIs5qkjljpQC&q=Dinkar+Kaushik&pg=PA9 |title=Trends in Modern Indian Art |work=Sunil Kumar Bhattacharya, Page 8: New Trends |publisher=MD Publications Private Limited |access-date=23 August 2019 |isbn=9788185880211 |year=1994}}</ref>

In 1997, [[R. Siva Kumar]], leading art historian, curated an exhibition, ''[[Santiniketan: The Making of a Contextual Modernism]]'', at the [[National Gallery of Modern Art]].<ref name="modernism">{{Cite web|url=https://frontline.thehindu.com/static/html/fl1418/14180690.htm|title=Finding an expression of its own|website=frontline.thehindu.com|access-date=5 September 2019}}</ref> The exhibition, brought together about a hundred works each of the four modern Indian artists, namely Nandalal Bose, Rabindranath Tagore, Ram Kinker Baij and Benode Behari Mukherjee on the centre stage and put the Santiniketan art movement into focus.<ref name="modernism"/> R.Siva Kumar argued that the "Santiniketan artists did not believe that to be indigenous one has to be historicist either in theme or in style, and similarly to be modern one has to adopt a particular trans-national formal language or technique.{{Citation needed|date=September 2019}} Modernism was to them neither a style nor a form of internationalism. It was critical re-engagement with the foundational aspects of art necessitated by changes in one’s unique historical position".<ref>{{cite web | url=http://humanitiesunderground.org/all-the-shared-experiences-of-the-lived-world-ii/ | title=Humanities underground » All the Shared Experiences of the Lived World II }}</ref>

Subsequently, as principal of Kala Bhavana, [[Dinkar Kaushik]] reshaped it for contemporary art practices. He invited sculptor [[Sarbari Roy Choudhury]], Ajit Chakraborty, graphic artist [[Somnath Hore]] and painters Sanat Kar and Lalu Prasad Shaw to join Kala Bhavana as teachers.<ref name="dinkar">{{cite web | url = https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/The-man-who-gave-Kala-Bhavan-a-new-life/articleshow/7490716.cms | title = The man who gave Kala Bhavan a new life | publisher = The Times of India, 14 February 2011 |access-date = 23 August 2019}}</ref> Amongst the many things he did to revolutionize the institution was to hold ''Nandan Mela''.<ref name="dinkar"/> On 1–2 December, ''Nandan Mela'' celebrates the birth anniversary of Nandalal Bose. “The students involve in various kinds of activities including art stalls put up by the Painting, Sculpture, Ceramics, Graphics, Design and Art History Departments. These stalls have artworks made by the students and teachers ranging from calendars to craft items, diaries, stationery, fashion jewelry, paintings, prints, saras (clay plates), and ceramics, wood and metal sculptures for sale at affordable prices.”<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.santiniketan.in/nandan-mela/| title = Nandan Mela | publisher = Santiniketan |access-date = 23 August 2019}}</ref>

==College overview==
The college has an art gallery, ''Nandan'', exhibiting sculptures, frescoes and murals.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://english.kolkata24x7.com/kala-bhavana-starts-100-years-celebration-nandan-mela-prep-peaks-up.html/ | title = Kala Bhavana starts 100 Years Celebration, Nandan Mela Prep Peaks Up| publisher = Kolkata 24 X 7, 29 November 2018 |access-date = 29 August 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=ADVENTURES IN ARCADIA- Experiments with the life of the mind|author=Ananya Vajpeyi |url=http://www.telegraphindia.com/1130303/jsp/opinion/story_16620913.jsp#.UUH2_hdTCHg |newspaper=The Telegraph |date=3 March 2013 |access-date=14 March 2013}}</ref> In the 1960s, the [[Birla family|Birlas]] and Goenkas families had built two girls hostels named after them.<ref name="sponsor">{{cite web | url = https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/kings-to-corporates-in-gurudev-footsteps-kala-bhavana-seeks-funds-from-birlas-and-goenkas-to-preserve-works-of-art/cid/211197| title = Kings to Corporates in Gurudev footsteps – Kala Bhavana seeks funds from Birlas and Goenkas to preserve works of art| publisher = The Telegraph, 17 February 2014 |access-date = 29 August 2019}}</ref> Kala Bhavana has 17,000 original art works by eminent Indian and Far-Eastern masters, and is now seeking outside support for preserving and displaying these.<ref name="sponsor"/>

[[Nandalal Bose]] became the first principal in 1923 and was followed by artists including [[Benode Behari Mukherjee]], [[Ramkinkar Baij]], [[K. G. Subramanyan]], [[Dinkar Kaushik]], [[R. Siva Kumar]], [[Somnath Hore]] and [[Jogen Chowdhury]].<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.readersdigest.co.in/culturescape/story-100-years-of-kala-bhavana-124816| title =100 Years of Kala Bhavana | publisher = 23 January 2019 |access-date = 29 August 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = https://english.kolkata24x7.com/kala-bhavana-starts-100-years-celebration-nandan-mela-prep-peaks-up.html/ | title = Kala Bhavana Starts 100 Years Celebration, Nandan Mela Prep Picks Up | publisher = Kolkata 24 x 7 |access-date = 29 August 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/The-man-who-gave-Kala-Bhavan-a-new-life/articleshow/7490716.cms| title = The man who gave Kala Bhavana a new life | publisher = The Times of India, 14 February 2011 |access-date = 20 August 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.telegraphindia.com/opinion/adventures-in-arcadia-experiments-with-the-life-of-the-mind/cid/327576#.UUH2_hdTCHg|title= Adventures in Arcadia - experiments with the life of the mind| publisher = The Telegraph, 3 March 2013 |access-date = 29 August 2019}}</ref> Amongst others who distinguished themselves in the art arena of Santiniketan were [[Sankho Chaudhuri]] and Sanat Kar.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://prinseps.com/research/sankho-chowdhury-artist-biography/ | title = Sankho Chowdhuri (1916-2006)| date = 16 February 2019| publisher = Princeps |access-date = 29 August 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.visvabharati.ac.in/ProfessorsEmeritus.html| title = Professors Emeritus | publisher = Visva Bharati |access-date = 29 August 2019}}</ref>

The school offers a [[Bachelor of Fine Arts]] degree and a [[Master of Fine Arts]] degree, as well as certificate degrees in painting, sculpture, mural painting, printmaking, design (textiles/ceramics) and art history.

==In popular culture and in history==
[[File:Emblem of India.svg|thumb|100px|left|Emblem of India]]
Nandalal Bose was assigned the task of decorating the original copy of the [[Constitution of India]] and he drew in several of his students for the work. It included [[Dinanath Bhargava]], [[Kripal Singh Shekhawat]], Jagdish Mittal, Gauri Bhanja, his daughter, and others.{{Citation needed|date=September 2019}} The brief was to illustrate 34 inch borders in 300-odd pages with patterns from different historical ages of the subcontinent. The document was adopted on 26 January 1950. Dinanath Bhargava, then 21-years old, was also given the task of adapting the design the [[State Emblem of India|national emblem]].<ref name="constitution">{{cite web | url = https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/artist-who-sketched-national-emblem-dies/articleshow/56175592.cms| title = Artist who sketched national emblem dies | publisher = The Times of India, 26 December 2016 |access-date = 29 August 2019}}</ref> [[Beohar Rammanohar Sinha]] illustrated the preamble and certain other pages.<ref>{{cite journal|author1=Sahoo, A.|author2=Pattanaik, T.|title=Making of the Constitution of India: A Critical Analysis|editor=L. Mohanty|journal=Odisha Review|date=January 2015|volume=LXXI|pages=7–15|url=http://odisha.gov.in/e-magazine/Orissareview/2015/Jan/engpdf/8-16.pdf|location=Government of Odisha, Bhubaneswar, India|access-date=14 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170116155308/http://odisha.gov.in/e-magazine/Orissareview/2015/Jan/engpdf/8-16.pdf|archive-date=16 January 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://newsable.asianetnews.tv/india/10-important-facts-about-the-indian-constitution|title=10 Important facts about the Indian constitution|website=Newsable.asianetnews.tv|access-date=26 November 2018}}</ref> R. Siva Kumar said that it was indeed a matter of pride that artists from Kala Bhavana embellished the prestigious document.<ref name="constitution"/>

In 2011, to mark the 150th birth anniversary of Rabindranath Tagore, ''[[Rabindra Chitravali]]'' was released, the four-volume set covered masters' painting [[Work of art|oeuvre]] consisting of 1,600 paintings, from Rabindra Bhavana (another institution of the university) and Kala Bhavana collection, along with 200 paintings from other institutions across India.<ref>{{cite news |title=Tagore paintings glow on his 150th birth anniversary |url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/News-Feed/India/Tagore-paintings-glow-on-his-150th-birth-anniversary/Article1-541584.aspx |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100514005426/http://www.hindustantimes.com/News-Feed/india/Tagore-paintings-glow-on-his-150th-birth-anniversary/Article1-541584.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-date=14 May 2010 |newspaper=Hindustan Times |date=10 May 2010 |access-date=15 March 2013}}</ref>

[[Satyajit Ray]], the legendary film maker, studied here in 1940-1941, under [[Benode Behari Mukherjee]], and later made a noted documentary on his teacher, ''[[The Inner Eye]]'' (1972).<ref name="satya">{{cite web|url=http://www.satyajitray.org/bio/at_shantiniketan.htm|title=Biography:At Shantiniketan|date=|publisher=.satyajitray.org|access-date=23 March 2013}}</ref> He had earlier made a 54-minute black-and-white documentary, [[Rabindranath Tagore (film)|Rabindranath Tagore]], on the life of the poet on the occasion of his birth centenary. The film won the President's Gold Medal Award, New Delhi, 1961 and the Golden Seal, Locarno, 1961.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0055351/ | title = Rabindranath Tagor (1961)| publisher = IMDb |access-date = 29 August 2019}}</ref>

''[[Ramkinkar Baij (film)|Ramkinkar]]'' is an incomplete personality study or documentary on sculptor [[Ramkinkar Baij]] created by legendary filmmaker [[Ritwik Ghatak]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Ramkinkar - Documentary|url=http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/title/518669|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090526035636/http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/title/518669|url-status=dead|archive-date=26 May 2009|publisher=BFI Because Films Inspire|access-date=1 March 2012}}</ref> He started creating the film in 1975. The film was almost complete but it still remained unfinished for the death of Ritwik Ghatak.<ref>{{cite book|last=Ghaṭaka|first=R̥tvikakumāra|title=Calaccitra, mānusha ebaṃ āro kichu|year=2005|publisher=De'ja Pābaliśiṃ|location=Kalakātā|isbn=81-295-0397-2|pages=359|edition=1. De'ja saṃskaraṇa.}}</ref>

Santiniketan has nine original ink brush works of [[Xu Beihong]], one of the pioneers of Chinese modern art, all painted during the artists visit to Santiniketan in 1939-40. He had stayed in [[Tan Yun-Shan]]’s old house near [[Cheena Bhavana]]. In August 2019, his son, Xufangfang, who had come on a follow up visit, said that he received inspiration from the creative environment at Visva Bharati.<ref name="beihong">{{cite web | url = https://icsin.org/blogs/2019/08/13/discovering-my-father-artist-xu-beihongs-experience-in-santiniketan-india/ | title = Discovering my father, Artist Xu Beihong's experience in Santiniketan, India | date = 13 August 2019 | publisher = ICS Research Blog |access-date = 20 August 2019}}</ref>

India has a long history of cultural relations with Japan.<ref name="japan">{{cite web | url = http://translation-anindya.blogspot.com/2010/09/touching-souls-painters-who-portrayed.html| title = Touching Souls: Painters who portarayed India| date = 5 September 2010| publisher = India and Japan Cultural Relations |access-date = 29 August 2019}}</ref> In 1902, [[Okakura Kakuzō|Tenshin Okakura]] and Rabindranath Tagore met in Kolkata.<ref name="japan"/> On returning to Japan, Okakura sent two distinguished artists, [[Yokoyama Taikan]] and [[Hishida Shunsō]] to Kolkata, where they met Rabindranath Tagore and Abanindranath Tagore. Rabindranath Tagore went five times to Japan – 1916, 1917, 1924 and 1929 twice.<ref name="japan"/> Nampu Katayama visited India in 1916. On an invitation from Tagore, Shokin Katsuta stayed in Santiniketan and worked as art teacher from 1905 to 1907.<ref name="japan"/> Kousetsu Nosu came to India in 1918. He met Kampu Arai in Kolkata, and the two together went to Ajanta for copying the frescoes there.<ref name="japan"/> In 1932 Nosu again came to India, to paint frescoes in the new Buddhist Vihara at [[Sarnath]]. On completing his work at Sarnath, he visited Kala Bhavana at Santiniketan to learn more about frescoes. Kampo Arai was in India from 1916 to 1918 and visited Santiniketan during the period. [[Fuku Akino|Akino Fuku]] was visiting professor at Santiniketan in 1962. [[Ikuo Hirayama]] has painted in India under the title Silk Road paintings. [[Nishida Shun'ei]] came to India in 1995. Koreshiko Hino visited Santiniketan in 2006.<ref name="japan"/>

==Notable people==
This is a list of notable alumni and teachers of Kala Bhavana, listed alphabetically by last name.

=== Faculty ===

*[[Asit Kumar Haldar]], was art teacher in Santiniketan Vidyalaya from 1911 to 1915 and was incharge of Kala Bhavana from 1919 to 1921.
*[[Stella Kramrisch]], Austrian [[art historian]], taught at Kala Bhavana, Santiniketan in 1922–24. A skilled dancer she taught “musical drill” to the children of Santiniketan ashrama. She was conferred Desikottama and [[Padma Bhusan]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.visvabharati.ac.in/StellaKramrisch.html|title=Stella Kramrisch|last=|first=|date=|website=Visva Bharati|access-date=2019-09-04}}</ref>
*[[R. Siva Kumar]], who studied history of art at Kala Bhavana, later joined as faculty and became its principal, is a leading art historian and has curated numerous art exhibitions.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.iaac.us/erasing_borders2008/marg.htm|title=Contemporary Indian Art|publisher=Indo-American Arts Council|access-date=3 August 2019}}</ref>

=== Painters ===

*[[Jayasri Burman]], an artist and painter working and living in Paris, graduated from Kala Bhavana.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aicongallery.com/artists/jayasri-burman/biography|title=Jayasri Burman|publisher=Aicon Gallery|access-date=20 August 2019}}</ref>
*[[Jogen Chowdhury]], eminent painter and parliamentarian, teaches at Kala Bhavana.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.indiaart.com/Artists/Jogen-Chowdhury/Profile-of-Jogen-Chowdhury.asp|title=Jogen Chowdhury|publisher=IndiaArt|access-date=23 August 2019}}</ref>
*[[Somnath Hore]], sculptor and printmaker, taught at Kala Bhavana. He was recipient of the [[Padma Bhusan]] award.<ref>''Somnath Hore, Life and Art'', Arun Ghose, Gallerie 88, 2007</ref>
*[[Kailash Chandra Meher]], painter, studied at Kala Bhavana. He was later conferred the [[Padma Shri]] award.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.indian-heritage.org/painting/kcmehr.html|title=Paintings|work=Kailash Chandra Mehr|publisher=Indian Heritage|access-date=29 August 2019}}</ref>
*[[A. Ramachandran]], noted painter and [[Padma Bhusan]] award winner, was a student of Kala Bhavana.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.vadehraart.com/a-ramachandran|title=A Ramachandran|website=Vadehra Art Gallery|language=en-US|access-date=2019-09-04}}</ref>

=== Printmakers ===

*[[Krishna Reddy (artist)|Krishna Reddy]], master printmaker at [[Stanley William Hayter|Atelier 17]] and sculptor, studied at Kala Bhavana.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://metmuseum.org/blogs/ruminations/2016/workshop-and-legacy-krishna-reddy-a-new-form|title=Krishna Reddy and Atelier 17: A "New Form" Takes Shape|last=|first=|date=|website=The Metropolitan Museum of Art (The Met)|access-date=2019-09-04}}</ref>
*[[K.G. Subramanyan]], noted painter and [[Padma Vibhushan]] award winner, was a student of Kala Bhavana and later came back to teach at Santiniketan.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.vadehraart.com/k-g-subramanyam|title=K.G.Subramanyan|publisher=Vadhera Art Gallery|access-date=20 August 2019}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Notable people associated with Santiniketan]]

== References ==
{{reflist}}
* {{cite book |title=History of Indian Painting: The Modern Period|author=Krishna Chaitanya|publisher=Abhinav Publications |year=1994|isbn=8170173108 |page=170 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=McSbSMhArFgC&q=Kala+Bhavana+Visva+Bharati&pg=PA170|ref=Ch }}

==External links==
{{external media
| align=right
| video1=[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=buQX0NTt1d0 Kala Bavana-e Nandan Mela (commentary in Bengali)]
|video2=[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hLKoN4lE_pk Kala Bhavan MFA Final Year Display 2018 – Part I]
}}
*[http://www.theheritagelab.in/shantiniketan-art-tour/ Shantiniketan Art Tour]
*[https://shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/10603/133152/8/09_chapteriv.the%20presence%20of%20women%20in%20the%20institutionalised%20space%20and%20their%20interventions%20-%20kala%20bhavana(1920-1930).pdf The presence of women in the institutionalized space and their interventions: Kala bhavana (1920-1930)]

{{authority control}}

{{Santiniketan}}

[[Category:Art schools in India]]
[[Category:Visva-Bharati University]]
[[Category:Educational institutions established in 1919]]
[[Category:Education in West Bengal]]
[[Category:Rabindranath Tagore]]
[[Category:1919 establishments in British India]]

Kala Bhavana - Revision history

UpdateBot at 14:03, 30 June 2022