Cause without a pause
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Mukesh Panika of Artsaid, a New York-based NGO, has mounted an exhibition of 19 artists from different countries in New Delhi.
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In this age of chaos and confusion, where people have stopped trusting each other, some people with genuine interest in unifying countries across the world are silently doing their work. One of them is Mukesh Panika, the founder of Artsaid, a New York-based non-profit organisation that unifies countries through assimilation of artists, musicians, litterateurs, dancers and so on. In his effort to rope in India also, Panika, has brought his show it to Delhi. To begin with, he has mounted an exhibition of 19 artists from different countries at The Ashok hotel. The artists are from the U.S., France, U.K. and Argentina, etc. This is not a usual exhibition to showcase the artists' calibre but a window to their culture and unity in diversity.
For new friends
How? Let Panika, an architect and academic from London School of Economics, explain: "I asked them to create something that is most striking about their country that would interest people from other countries and unite them. Hence, most artists have come not only introspected but also tried to explore what best they can offer from their country to their new friends." Take for instance, Saif Al Rashidi from Egypt who has come out with works on chaos prevailing in his country and still manages to show order within that chaos.
The exhibition that started this past Thursday would continue till this coming Sunday. Also on a huge canvas measuring 15x60 the artists will collaboratively work. This canvas would be presented to Delhi as a tribute from these artists.
This is just a beginning. Artssaid, in New York, Panikar says is a consortium of artists, journalists, architects, businesspersons, lawyers and litterateurs, etc that will spread its wings to India soon through its own proper venue. But "more than an artistic space, it would be the meeting point for different countries. I am not making it an elitist affair," says Panika. At one time Artsaid will introduce one country, its culture, food, religion, philosophy, art, music and so on.
Panika, who is bringing Poland to India next time, has coincided this event with the silver jubilee of The Art of Living, with which he was inspired and thus founded Artssaid last year in New York. He has plans to rope in cultural ministries and corporate houses for the cause.
RANA SIDDIQUI
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