Art Unites: Pranab opens 1st SAARC Artists Exhibition

New Delhi, Jun 3 (UNI) External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee inaugurated the first SAARC Artists Exhibition at the Lalit Kala Akademi here last evening based on the theme 'Art Unites.' Indian Council For Cultural Relations (ICCR) in collaboration with 'Seher' brought together 25 leading artists from eight SAARC countries at a recent ten-day camp at Jaisalmer. The artists worked together during the camp to produce works of art. The collection was put together for an exclusive viewing of the SAARC leaders during the recently held SAARC summit in New Delhi.

This unique expression of creativity, flowing out of an unprecedented artistic endeavour, is now being put for public display here at Lalit Kala Akademi.

Speaking at the inauguration of the exhibition for public here last evening, Mr Mukherjee said, ''The Artists Camp at Jaisalmer was a landmark initiative as a part of our hosting the 14th SAARC Summit. Such initiatives help us to bring in focus huge reservoir of creativity in the region.'' ''This camp is an outcome of connectivity of minds and ideas.

Each SAARC country is unique in its culture yet has some common ideas,'' he added.

''The ten-day Artists' Camp at Jaisalmer in January was the most interesting among the various initiatives taken by the ICCI. The ten-day atmosphere charged with energy and communication resulted in some of the best-known artists from the SAARC region producing excellent works,'' ICCR President Karan Singh said.

''These paintings are a result both of individuality and the bond they have shared as a group. Apart from political and economic diplomacy between the SAARC nations, cultural diplomacy also has a major role to play in developing friendship, trust and understanding between them. The paintings are a manifestation of harmony in action,'' he added.

''We intend to send the exhibition to all SAARC capitals after which it will come back to Delhi,'' Dr Singh said.

From Kabul artist Abdul Shokoor Khasrawe's 'Kabul War' depicting events during the Kabul war to Sri Lankan artist Anoma Wijewardene's painting titled 'Who are we.. Are we us?', the art exhibition is a plethora and ideas, creativity, feelings and observations of 25 leading artists from eight SAARC nations --Afghanistan ,Bangladesh, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Maldives, India, Nepal and Pakistan.

''The ten-day camp at Jaisalmer was an exhilarating and refreshing experience,'' Indian artist Gopi Gajwani , whose painting is also at display in the exhibition , said. Talking about his untitled painting he said, ''My painting has blocks of yellow stones with a little bit of pink and blue in it.

To me that is what life is. Life exists in these yellow stones.'' The exhibition will be on display till June 4 here.

UNI