Similipal Sketches was conceived as an experiential art workshop at Barehipani within Similipal National Park, bringing together artists to engage closely with the region’s natural and cultural landscape as a biodiversity conservation art project in Odisha. Through direct interaction with the forest environment and local communities, the artists drew inspiration from indigenous knowledge systems, native scripts, and the unique presence of the melanistic tiger.
The workshop fostered a process of collaborative creation, resulting in a body of work that reflects the ecological richness of Similipal and the lived experiences of its communities. These artistic expressions serve as enduring representations of the region’s identity, bridging tradition, environment, and contemporary interpretation.
Acknowledgements
The initiative gratefully acknowledges the contributions of Adwaita Gadanayak (Padma Shri), Harshvardhan Sharma, Kalyan Barik, Kirti Chandak, Madhu Venugopalan, Manas Pati, Nivedita Mishra, Suresh K. Nair, Samarjeet Behera, Trupti Joshi, and Umesh Nayak for their valuable participation and support.
