Oz attacks: Khan wants to take music route to ease tensions

agency news | Melbourne – Thursday , Aug 20, 2009 at 1608 hrs

Amjad Ali Khan © Sarod.com

“Very apprehensive” to visit Down Under after recent attacks on Indian students, sarod maestro Ustad Amjad Ali Khan has found the people here “friendly” and plans to play a special symphony ‘Samaagam’ in Australia to ease the tensions.

Khan, here for India’s Independence Day celebrations, said he was “inspired” to see “50 per cent Australians and 50 per cent Indians” among the audience in his concert. If it was a racist country, then Australians would not have come in such numbers to listen him perform, he said.

He said the whole world belongs to the same race and there is a common chord of connection. The legend has composed a symphony called ‘Samaagam‘ (coming together) that he believes will ease the strained ties between the two sides.

“I have played the symphony in Europe with Scottish Orchestra and now it is being proposed that I play in Australia as well,” Khan said.

“Music has got the strength to bridge the gap as the same notes are used globally. Music has connected the whole world. The seven notes…in English Do re me and ours Sa re ga…help us feel connected to each other. Music transcends boundaries.

“I was very apprehensive at first to visit this place as Indian media has created a hype of the Indian student attacks back home. I was initially scared to walk on the streets here but now I find that this place is safe and people here are really friendly,” the 63-year-old said.

(Source: 08/20/2009 – Indianexpress.com | News – Story)

New Delhi: India Art Summit puts forth a strong case for art without borders

by Gordina Maddox

Mumbai: Stimulating international dialogue may well be the catchphrase at this year’s India Art Summit at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi. The art hub, like every year, has a number of Mumbai galleries and artists participating. There are over 15 international galleries at the Summit, and several Indian galleries like Sakshi Art Gallery, Chemould Prescott, The Loft, Chatterjee & Lal and Marigold Fine Art.

Art works from China, Korea, Japan and Philippines to New York, London and Germany will be on display at the Summit. Eastern Europe has a small representation as does UAE. Mortimer Chatterjee of Chatterjee & Lal, says, “It takes a lot of gumption for international galleries to show in India since Indian collectors are more focused and less experimental when it comes to collecting. I also do not see the participation of these galleries posing any threat to Indian counterparts.”

“India has had a large presence at other art fairs in France, London, Dubai which has kindled the interest of many foreign galleries, artists and collectors. However, the Indian market is yet unexplored by galleries and collectors from Asia and Europe,” observes Kanchi Mehta, an independent curator.

The stall at the Arario Gallery, a China-based gallery that has branches in New York, Korea, displays an interesting mix of Indian and Korean art with artists like Dong Wook Lee displayed alongside Jitish Kallat and L N Talur. Assistant curator Hwajung Choi says art techniques are universal. “I think to really understand the difference between Indian and Korean art one has to have knowledge of that culture. Otherwise the techniques employed by Indian artists are quite international,” says the curator referring to Kallat’s 90×204 canvas, Eclipse, depicting Mumbai’s street children with a tangle of the metropolis’ crowded streets in their hair. Talur’s installation could belong to any nation since the dark greasy machine churning out lumps of black waste bears no direct reference to India.

While the etchings and drawings by Picasso, hosted by German art gallery Beck & Eggling, could have got a better display, Anish Kapoor’s sculptures displayed by Lisson Gallery take pride of place.

One can take in the references to specific culture or choose to look at the art as a seamless continuum of globalisation, as Christian Hosp of Galerie Christian Hosp says, “We are committed to bringing about a dialogue between Asia and the West, through a dedicated selection and display of artists from Europe and Asia.”

Internationally yours
* Rob Dean Art Ltd, UK
* Galerie Christian Hosp, Germany
* Aanant & Zoo, Germany
* Ivonna Veiherete Art Gallery, Latvia
* Art Quest, London
* Aicon Gallery, USA
* Shonandai MT Gallery, Japan
* HBgalerie, Rotterdam
* 1X1 Dubai, UAE
* Lisson Gallery, London
* Thomas Erben Gallery

also see: “Amidst recession, global art market looks up to India“

(Source: Aug 21, 2009 at 0155 hrs – IndianExpress.com | News)

India Art Summit on NDTV (26th June 2009)