Bengaluru: With fungus gnawing at the edges of timeless paintings though they are well preserved inside a glass enclosure at a gallery named after him, at least eight artworks of legend K Venkatappa are under clear threat. The century-old artworks are now safely shipped for fungal treatment and treatment.The 50-year-old Venkatappa Art Gallery — the city’s pride and recently inaugurated after its renovation — is under the scanner for an inelegant reason: A total of 16 artworks were identified as “in need of urgent conservation” and eight of them were sent to be rid of the fungal growth.Five paintings were sent for restoration in August, and three in September. Venkatappa is celebrated as a modern artist whose signature was a stunning mix of paints that was as unique as his style of expression. Today, eight of his artistic reflections of Kodaikanal and Ooty from the 1920s have caught fungus due to a microenvironment created between the glass frame and the watercolour on paper paintings it was supposed to protect.The art fraternity, which moved the govt to prevent the gallery housing his paintings from being placed in private hands, approached minister HK Patil on Wednesday about the neglect.On the sidelines of the inaugural exhibition of Hirebenakal landscape and dolmen photo exhibition at the gallery, Patil told TOI, “We’ll take action towards the legitimate demands in the shortest span of time.”The switching off of the airconditioning at night is said to have created an issue at the Venkatappa and Hebbar halls where these modern artists’ paintings are housed.“The microclimate created between the protecting glass and the painting thereby caused the fungus. We have resorted to blowers. The paintings most affected are sent to INTACH for restoration. Slowly, more will be sent in phases. We’ll be changing the mounts of Hebbar paintings too. The restoration involves application of a fungus repellent, which will make it last longer,” said curator Sumitra Sunder.Devaraju A, commissioner of the department of archaeology, museums, and heritage, informed the minister that the airconditioning was replaced by blowers and fans. “An MoU is being signed with INTACH (Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage) for continued restoration. INTACH restored all 239 of Nicholas Roerich’s works here, part of which will soon be exhibited to the public.”D Smitha, director (museums), department of archaeology, museums, and heritage, said the section of the building (inaugurated after renovation in mid-June) is more humid because of the moat around it. “We are navigating optimal conditions for the paintings.”BOXPaintings still face threat: VAG membersSuresh Kumar G, an artist and VAG member, said that paintings are still not being taken care of after all the struggle to preserve this space. VAG members complained that contemporary artists are not getting a chance to hold their exhibitions.Sources claimed that talks are going on about fixing rates for opening up the exhibition space to artists on the ground floor. D Smitha, director (museums), department of archaeology, museums, and heritage, said a meeting of the committee will be convened soon.Paintings Taken Out for RestorationTwilight Ooty 1926 Monsoon Rain Ooty 1926 Dawn Ooty 1926 Moonrise Kodaikanal 1934 Sunset Ooty 1957 Full Moon Ooty 1926 Moonrise Ooty 1926 Cockers Walk and Strobilanthes Kodaikanal 1934
