As part of the celebrations of the 25th anniversary of ASEAN-India Dialogue Relations, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Government of India in collaboration with SEHER is organising the first ASEAN-India Artists’ Residency Camp at The Ananta in Udaipur, Rajasthan from tomorrow till September 29, 2017.
“It is art that will bring together the spirit and the essence of the 25th anniversary of ASEAN-India Dialogue Relations, as MEA in collaboration with SEHER is organising a unique artists camp in the beautiful lake city of Udaipur. Ten artists from India and ten artists from ASEAN countries will work together to create an amalgamation of splendid artwork reflecting the deep-rooted cultural connection,” a government statement said.
The participating artists from the countries are Loi Cai Xiang from Singapore, Chan Sophorn (Cambodia), Iqro Akhmed Ibraham and Laily Subhki from Indonesia, Kanha Sikounnavong, Mohammad Shahrul Hisham B Ahmed Tarzimi from Malaysia, Thet Naing from Myanmar, Naphaphong Kurae from Thailand and Nguyen Nghia Phuong from Vietnam. The Indian artists include Binoy Varghese, Farahad Hussain, Kalam Patua, Kiyomi, Laishram Meena Mahaveer Swami, Samindranath Majumdar and Tanmoy Samanta.
The Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) comprises Indonesia, Singapore, Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei, Thailand, Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar and Vietnam.
The camp is based on the theme ‘Ocean of Opportunity' that aptly reflects the close civilisation and cultural links that India and South-East Asia have enjoyed for over two millennia through maritime cooperation. ASEAN and India have time and again been a pillar of strength for each other and are walking together on the path of holistic development.
A collection of 20 paintings, created extempore at the camp, will be displayed in a special exhibition, which will be inaugurated at the ASEAN-India Summit by India's Prime Minister in January 2018 in New Delhi, India.
According to the schedule, the artists with a background in different styles of painting – contemporary, modern, traditional, impressionist – will interact and stay together to create work that would reflect the cross-cultural interaction. With an objective to create awareness of ASEAN identity, artists will create one work of art each during his/her stay at the camp that will have the essence of their own cultural and artistic traditions.
Discussions will be held among the artists that would intensify the interaction and understanding of each other’s milieu and art practices. The event has an interesting line of guest speakers who would interact with the artists on various subjects.
At the same time, the participants will have an opportunity to experience an interdisciplinary exchange with performing artists like Dr Anwesa Mahanta, who will conduct a seminar on Sattriya Nritya and interact with the artists. Eshani Agarwal and Ujwal Nagar will be presenting a collaboration of Kathak dance and Khayal singing and followed by a discussion with the participating painters.
A workshop with students of MMPS School, Udaipur, will also be organised as a part of the camp, where senior artists will interact with students and initiate a new approach to art education in the school.
“By promoting awareness and deeper understanding of the values and traditions of both ASEAN countries and India, the camp aims creating cultural ambassadors in the participating artists for ASEAN and India when they return to their respective cities and countries,” the statement added.