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Journalism of Courage
A group of diplomats comes up with a colourful exhibition on their impressions of India
After negotiating icy deals and thawing frosty relations between two countries, some gutsy diplomats based in Delhi are determined to turn into maverick artists, painting India, through a foreign prism. Coming Monday, eight artists8212;diplomats and their spouses will present their impressions of India on canvas in 8220;India Through My Eyes8221;, curated by Dr Alka Raghuvanshi at the Dhoomimal gallery. On view is a well balanced vision of modern and traditional India, like a glimpse of the Pushkar mela, some canvases with village women balancing brass pots adroitly and even a tribute to India8217;s dashing cricketer Mahendra Singh Dhoni.
Until two years ago, the feisty Kirstin Pukall worked as the Head of Division in the Federal Ministry of Economics, Berlin. Now, in India since 2006, Pukall has refreshed her dalliance with art full time. With solo and group exhibitions under her belt, she considers herself a professional artist. 8220;I started with an art course but didn8217;t finish it,8221; smiles Pukall. The India through her eyes is a colourful postcard with rustic Indian faces, an archaic snake charmer and the flamboyant Dhoni in The CaptainHimself. 8220;I saw him in a T 20 series being played in South Africa and really liked his form in the match,8221; recalls Pukall.
Gabriella Montanari, wife of Marc Fonbaustier, Minister Counsellor at Embassy of France, says she8217;s a great admirer of several Indian artists. 8220;I first saw Bharti Kher and Anita Dube8217;s works in an exhibition Indian Summer in 2005 and was very impressed with the works. So, I really wanted to come to India,8221; shares Montanari, 37, who teaches plastic art at Ecole Francaise. Her work8212;a saucy paan shaped sculpture deftly titled Paantheon with Indian Gods painted on it is a clever juxtaposition of the holy and profane. 8220;When I was in Brussels, I painted only occasionally. After I got married, I found the time and independence to work as an artist. My husband shares my enthusiasm about art,8221; says Montanari.
Raghuvanshi feels it is important to get a foreign perspective in the artworks. 8220;When diplomats are posted here, they see things differently. The uniqueness and quirky aspects of India will be visible in the works,8221; says Raghuvanshi. Other participating artists are Worachat Poldej, Minister Charge d8217;Affaires at Royal Thai Embassy, Canadian artist Susan Macartney and Thai artist Prempriya Plengratana Dalvit. There will be 40 works on display.
The exhibition presented by Art Spice will be on view at Dhoomimal gallery till December 21
