Vineizotuo Tase
Ketholeno Neihu
Kohima | January 20
A realistically looking picture of a wrinkled Naga elder of Konyak Tribe hadn’t just been an attractive piece to display, much of it been prized to fervent effort and passion, let a British tourist named Chris purchase the artistic painting of Vineizotuo Tase during the Hornbill Festival 2016. Describing the work presided with acrylic paint and water on canvas measured 64/49 inches, his painting was sold at whopping amount worth lakhs of rupees. A moment of such significance sets a historical stance to the people of the land and the festival in awe itself.
27 years old Vineizotuo Tase who hails from Jakhama Village, shares his moment of accomplishment through local artists who not only bears an inspiring mark but also mentored him to acquire different forms and techniques of art and painting.
Recalling the impression and support he had from M. Duolo and Vikhor Tepa, had set him a tinge of motivation to undertake more challenging ones as realistic pictures and portraits while heightening his skills and abilities also. “Besides sculpturing, I do all kinds of painting as pencil sketching, oil, charcoal etc,” he said.
The particular picture formerly sold off had him engrossed for at least nine months, meanwhile he had his service rendered for other art works for the town beautification project and the “wall of hope” project perfectly seen beside the highway near the PHQ point, Pr. Hill, Kohima.
Discovering his interest in early schooling days, he attributes an event during his 9th standard, the class captain whom he had close acquaintance with chose him to participate in an inter-school drawing competition organized by the Land Resource department where he came third. Although after graduation his dream to pursue diploma/degree courses in fine arts couldn’t be accomplished it had never hindered his dream in becoming less than a professional.
While he has huge collection of art and painting in his home studio and some major works at the ‘Art Works’ studio and shop of M. Duolo he also does various artwork on commission, his hands on his tools has never a day rested to compromise on a busy day where he is demanded to engage in social life.
The artist whose focus of work is on the Naga people and culture for which the particular painting sold was from the series “For the forgotten Battles” based on Naga Warrior. The painting sold was much to his satisfaction and awe a good amount as he shares that in the selling of a work sometimes ones loses the prize by setting it very high or at times the returns too low adding to ones discouragement. He loves tranquility and peaceful surroundings which exactly suits his personality as an artist staying focused and undisturbed. Art and painting to him has always been a gratification and re-recreation of reality. Setting his goals straight to continue with his vocation at home and higher levels too.
The writer is currently an intern at The Morung Express.
