India, China bond through art

In November last year, artists from India and China got together at Diggi Palace in Jaipur for a week-long art residency project called ‘Maitri’. It was a cultural dialogue to promote peace using art as a tool.

The artists celebrated the common but unique cultural link that the two countries share. The initiative was taken by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) to bridge the gap between the two countries at various levels through art, culture and people-to-people interaction.

The works that were the outcome of the project are on display at the India International Centre for a week-long exhibition. The paintings on display are traditional water colour works as well as contemporary-styled oil paintings by the visiting artists. The Chinese artists even conducted workshops for Indian artists to teach their unique water colour technique.

The works by the Indian artists are quite diverse and some of them deal with social issues. Many of the paintings have been inspired by the Pink City.

‘Maitri’ literally translated means friendship and according to the organisers it was amazing to see bonds forged between the artists through the language of art. Artist Gogi Saroj Pal commenting on the experience said that it was not just an expression of aesthetic sensibilities, but an opportunity to connect at the human and soul level by celebrating diversity and overcoming any linguistic and geographical barriers.

The exhibition is on at the India International Centre till February 27.