The penultimate source of creativity, imagination and action is an extended dream project of the artist Jagannath Panda, to capture and enhance the richness of Odishan culture as well to promote art that reflects the contemporary realities of the urban, rural, secular and sacred identities of the region.

Utsha is a registered charitable trust based in Bhubaneswar with a commitment to capture, engage and nurture the Odishan culture and provides a space/platform to reflect and augment diversity of the state with all its urban, rural, secular and religious identities. We are intensely involved in promoting artistic excellence with exciting synthesis of contemporary and traditional arts, in all their forms and mediums. We are very keen to investigate the notions and dilemmas of contemporary visual culture (at large) by creating a dynamic and vibrant artistic and intellectual environment for experimentation and creativity.

Utsha supports a growing network of art practitioners, organizations, galleries, students, researchers and common people. We are unique in the sense of connecting parochial and traditional practices to the global and contemporary creative circuits respectively. We are more concerned with local, ethnic and regional practices that come from small towns such as in the hinterland and in spaces marked by conflict zones; As these are the realms that need urgent attentions and are full with possibilities.

Utsha invites critical reflections on the nature of the contemporary Odisha in global context. As we function internationally to realize the notion and dialogue with people around the world. we invite regular screenings and discussion of different areas and interest of visual culture which could be volunteerly or curated including documentary and video art, theatre, performance etc. we embodies a continuing engagement with creativity in different communities and locations.

Image: © Arbind Singh, Nature Morte