UAE artists join celebrations at India@75 exhibition

UAE-based Indian artists will showcase unique stories of the Indian freedom movement at an art and craft exhibition in Dubai to celebrate 75 years of progressive India.

Titled ‘Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav’, the exhibition was inaugurated at the Consulate-General of India, Dubai, on Thursday.

The India@75 initiative will focus on five pillars: The Freedom Struggle, Ideas@75, Achievements@75, Actions@75, and Resolves@75. The initiative would run globally over the next two years to celebrate the people, history, culture and achievements of India and Indians around the world.

Dr Aman Puri, Consul-General of India, Dubai, invited Indians to take part at the India Pavilion at Expo 2020.

The participating artists include Atul Panase, Swapnil Jawale, Punam A Salecha, Vidisha Pandey, Anjani P Laitu, Akshay Arora, Shrutika Gosavi, Masarratfatima Sulaimani and Soumya Shree. It was interesting to note that four of the artists whose work is on display, hold the Golden UAE Visa.

x`The idea of the exhibition was conceptualised two months ago when artists were invited via an open call to send in their entries (653 submissions were received) and the works were selected on the basis of how they celebrated the ideas and achievements of India in sectors that have led to a self-reliant India.

Senior Indian artist and illustrator Atul Panase, who has been practising art in Dubai for 20 years, and who is the art curator for the exhibition said: “The exhibition is a reflection of the nine flavours of art expression. Each piece on display speaks of a different style of art, including, but not limited to traditional Warli painting, abstract form, pen and ink-work, and more.”