What early memory stirs in your mind when you travel back to your childhood and try to recollect anything about art? For most of us, it ought to take us back to the small, waxy box of Camlin crayons, those vibrant sketch pens, or the first box of water colours, maybe. It is from this nostalgic cradle of beginnings that Camlin’s legacy is linked with us. Continuing its enduring policy to supplement the world of art, Kokuyo-Camlin’s Camel Art Foundation now extends its hands to the next generation of artists gathering at Konark. The much-awaited forthcoming chapter of the National Art Camp & Exhibition series, the Konark Art Camp & Exhibition, is scheduled from 10–14 November 2025.
Overall, forty-five shortlisted artists hailing from the leading art colleges across East India shall gather for a five-day event, which incorporates expert lectures, mentor-led studio discussions, and field studies as well. This initiative is to be made successful in association with the Utkal University of Culture (UUC), Bhubaneshwar, and is set to initiate a new cohort of artists in the beautiful and artistic setting of Odisha. More precisely, Konark is a felicitous venue.
Why Does this Chapter Matter?
The Camel Art Foundation’s camps have traveled a long range of Indian sites, from Hampi to Ajmer, where the place itself becomes an educator. The past chapters have offered thrilling experiences like open-air sketching and curated exhibitions that put the cumulative toil of artists on public display. This year, the Konark chapter aims to reflect upon its past activities and allow students to test ideas in situ and then see their works framed for an audience beyond college walls.
Moreover, the institutional partnership with UCC Bhubaneshwar, a kind of mandate, is offered, which explicitly positions the importance of preserving, promoting, and protecting the richness of Odisha’s cultural value. The university specializes in fields ranging from Visual Arts and performing arts to cultural studies and Archaeology. By achieving an active collaboration with such a leading cultural institution in the state, Camlin ensures that the event is invested in the local artistic system.
The exhibition offers a crucial platform for artists to display their newly created works. This is vital for connecting artists with critics, and potential audience, and also acts as a launch pad for their professional careers. It offers a niche for cross-pollination of ideas and techniques that helps to forge a cohesiveness in art.
Exhibition Details
| Aspect | Description |
|---|---|
| Event Name | Camel Art Foundation Art Camp & Exhibition 2025–26 |
| Organizers | Camel Art Foundation, a Kokuyo Camlin initiative |
| Academic Partner | Utkal University of Culture (UUC), Bhubaneswar |
| Location | Konark, Odisha — inspired by the Sun Temple (UNESCO World Heritage Site) |
| Duration | Five-day creative camp, from November 10th to 14th, 2025 |
| Participants | 45 shortlisted artists from leading art colleges across East India |
Key highlights
- Forty-five emerging artists were selected from a regional shortlist; regional representation is a strong point.
- Mentor-led sessions promise sustained critique rather than one-off demos, valuable for development.
- Site visits to Konark mean participants will engage directly with vernacular sculpture and landscape.
- Collaboration with Utkal University of Culture could anchor the program in local pedagogy and resources.
Takeaway
The Camel Art Foundation’s chapter matters because it moves beyond metropolitan nexuses and invests in peripheral centres of practice. By bringing mentors and a market-driven exhibition to Konark, the event expands its networks for students. This five-day experience goes beyond the participants’ outlook, creating artists who are both technically skilled and conceptually rich.
