Bhubaneswar: Former Odisha Chief Minister and BJD Supremo Naveen Patnaik visited the Lalit Kala Akademi in Bhubaneswar to attend The Long Now of Us, a solo exhibition by acclaimed contemporary artist Jagannath Panda, curated by Sibdas Sengupta.
After visiting the exhibition, Patnaik shared his thoughts on his official X handle, stating: “Visited Lalit Kala Academy and attended the Solo Art exhibition, ‘The Long Now of Us’ by acclaimed artist Jagannath Panda. Congratulated Panda for the splendid art exhibition which beautifully chronicles the artistic evolution through mythologies, temple iconography and #Odisha’s rich cultural heritage.”
Visited Lalit Kala Academy and attended the Solo Art exhibition, “The Long Now of Us” by acclaimed artist Jagannath Panda. Congratulated Shri Panda for the splendid art exhibition which beautifully chronicles the artistic evolution through mythologies, temple iconography and… pic.twitter.com/NuAO8H4o6I
— Naveen Patnaik (@Naveen_Odisha) February 23, 2026
During his visit, Patnaik spent time viewing the works as Panda personally guided him through the exhibition, explaining the layered concepts and processes behind his works.
The exhibition brings together paintings, sculptures, installations, drawings and digital elements, reflecting Panda’s distinctive use of collage as both a visual language and a conceptual tool. Rooted in Odisha’s temple architecture, vernacular ornamentation and ritual traditions, the works explore themes of memory, ecological fragility, cultural displacement and myth-making.
Through dense, layered compositions, Panda creates a dialogue between past and present — what he describes as a “long now” where time, memory and lived experience coexist. The exhibition was inaugurated February 13 by Deputy Chief Minister KV Singhdeo and will remain open to the public until February 28.
PNN
