E-Mail : silpikesudas@gmail.com

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M/s: Kesu Das, Baleswari Kala Kendra, Kashomba Nagar, Bhimpura,Balasore, Odisha, PIN- 756003

A thin man having long hair and mustard called Kesu Das, a well-known person to every family, is a living legend in the sector of art and culture of Balasore. Extraordinary work style and creative thought gives a newstroke to his activity and to its conversations. As a follower of Fakir Mohan Senapati, eminent Odia writer he has dedicated his life in revive the Baleshwari- Jaukandhei, a traditional artwork. To revive, redevelop, and re- establish the vanished, ignored and no discussed art, artist and culture of his district, he is working as a dedicated volunteer. Since three decades, he is working as a committed worker for the development of child art, cartoon, tribal art, sand art and Baleswari folk art. He gives his all effort and eligibility for the sake of art and culture. Even if he has financial problem, he never care for it. He always works for the enhancement of art, artist and culture.

Silpi Das is an only painter in India who have started new medium colour like lacquer on canvas. He has experiment with local folk art colour medium lacquer & established a new vision in Indian art field. He got senior fellowship on Visual Art from Culture Dept. Govt. of India from 2014 to 2016. During the fellowship period he researched details about Indian Lacquer Art & Culture and recorded a 300 pages valuable document. This is one

of valuable documentation for Indian Visual Art.

He electrolyzed the people of Odisha by reviving the Baleshwari - Jaukandhei, the disappearing folk craftwork of this district. Many women take part in this novel work and are trained in making Jaukandhei. He inspired writers and play actors to work on this culture, on their field. Jaukandhei became symbol of culture Baleswar and its tradition.Women started worshpingJaukandhei in the occasion of Savitri Brata,which was an old tradition but people forgotten it.Then a new page added to Baleshawr culture named as ‘‘JaukandheiBahaghara’’ the marriage between two lacquer dolls and this marriage became a cultural festival of Balesawar.

Recognize Patidion Cult:

PatidianAnkanaUtsav

We also glad to inform you that after a lavish holy bath with the water of 108 pitchers, the divine siblings of Puri temple — Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Goddess Subhadra have caught fever. So the trinity takes rest in ‘AnasaraGhara’ where the lord receives the secret seva of Raj Vaidyas and Daitapatis . On the regards he recognized that Lord Jagannath Cult on North OdishaJagannath temples through ritual Patidian. This 6 days program is popularly known as PattidianAnkaUtsav with Pattapainting Training, Workshop, Exhibition, and Seminar since 2015. In this event, he personally participates and promotes traditional & new budding artists to take part in this event.

Contribute to Odisha Cartoons

At first, he stepped as a cartoonist and got all he needed. His cartoons and caricature were published in many reputed newspapers, periodicals and magazines. He was the man behind organizing the first State Level Child Cartoon Art Competition during 1987-98, with this he also published a book named “BARNAMALA SAHASAHAJ CARTOON SHIKHYA’ that contained tricks to draw cartoons in a simpler way on Odia Alphabets, which encouraged and attracted thousands of children for cartoonism.

Contribute to odishan sand art

Adding Cultural value in Sand Art: Sri Jagannathanku

Balire Naibidya

Odisha is famous for its incredible Sand Art. To make the sand city Balasore more attractive and artistic, he started familiarizing the sand art. He is very active in publishing sand art on contemporary society’s issue. He made a sand gallery at Baleshwar for upcoming sand artist and visitors. The 10 avatar of lord Jagannath in sand during every RathYatra Period. This 9 days program is popularly known as ‘Sri Jagannathanku BalireNaibidya’. In this event, he personally participates and promotes new budding artists to take part in this event.

Amelioration of Traditional and Regional Floor Painting: Jhoti

Artist Kesu Das has taken initiative to popularize the traditional Manabasa - Jhoti painting from home to worldwide which is generally shown in different festivals and rituals. By the motivation of artist Das, Every year on the last Thursday of the month of Margashira, the odia women create Jhoti in front of their home.

Mass Awareness of Tribal Painting:

In 2007 an one month door to door wall painting camp was organized by Kesu Das to give a new looks to the tribal slums and resuscitate the tribal wall painting as well as to develop the artistic eligibility and consciousness of tribal women. In addition, latter on its effect were seen on Bhubaneswar’s boundaries and it also taken by “Sarva Siksha Aviyan”. During the 2009 election, Kesu Das had organized a tribal painting exhibition taking tribal students to aware about the transparency in voting which created a great impact on the mind set of tribal people..

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Empowerment of women: Nabamatruka Puja

To protest the uncultured activity in Durga Puja and to promote women empowerment, activist Das started worshiping 9 dignified women by presenting their portraits in each day starting from Mahalaya to Nawbmi of Durga puja

Conservation of Horseshoe Crab: The Fossilac

Horseshoe crabs are found in the coastal belt of Odisha state, particularly in the coastline of Balasore district. These rare and unique crabs have often been referred to as Living Fossil owing to the conserved and steady state of existence since around last 450 million years.He started awaking people about this creature and its significance to humankind by organizing art competitions,sand art,and conference. His delegation in 4th International Workshop on The Science & Conservation of Horseshoe Crab organised by IUCN, Qinzhou City, China - 2019 is a remarkable effort in this field too.

Cultural Adviser at North Odisha Chambers of Commerce & Industries (NOCCi)

Since 2013, as a Cultural Adviser of NorthaOdisha Chambers of Commerce & Industries (NOCCi), he has been continuing a weekend cultural programme at Utkalaa Open Theatre in the premises of NOCCi Business Park to promote new visual & performing artists, same time reward respected artists. For literature, he started Monthly Facebook KabitaAsar on 4th Sunday in every month.

Koshamba Mela: Oldest name of Balasore

Since 2020, on t5he occasion of Saraswati Puja, stared a yearly festival to revive oldest historical name of Balasore

During Covid 19 Pandemic period

In the Covid 19 Pandemic period he is doing lot of noble work for society through art and culture as a silent warrior. He installed a waste material pillar to dedicate Covid 19 warriors at his native village. Same time he started “OdiaAkhyarare Cartoon Sikhya” in his You Tube Channel to boosting Odia Alphabets to bind kids during shutdown period of India. He also made one document film and four short mud art films.

Kumbha Kshetra: Hidden Tourist Place of Balasore

Discover hidden waterfalls and explore heritage caves in the natural beauty of foothills of Kuldiha wildlife Century, Nilgiri, Balasore. Immerse in local culture by learning the art & craft of traditional pottery making and lacquer craft (folk art of Balasore) from entire village. Adding a touch of creativity to your retreat.

Every year in Balasore, the programs of Kesu Das, the man who has brought a renaissance in the field of art and culture of Balasore, are held at particular occasions. He is the first man to introduce the contemporary art like Installation Art, Performing Art, Public Art and 3 Dimensional (3D Art), Sand Art, The Waste-installation, Tread Art in Balasore, Odisha. Now a day is these innovative thoughts and ideas are hardly seen in any artists. Kesu Das came from a lower middle class family of a remote coastal village, Dublagadi, lives Koshamba Nagar in Balasore town, in cottagehouse and manage his small family in joy and sorrow. However, the footprint that he gave in the field of art, tradition and culture is simply remarkableMass awareness.