‘Kalpana’ exhibition of Indian art opens in Astana

ASTANA - Kalpana, an exhibition of 29 digitally produced prints of well-known paintings of eminent Indian artistes representing human figure forms and created over a span of more than a century has opened in this Kazakhstan capital.

Starting with Jamini Roy, the exhibition also includes the works of Amrita Shergil, M.F. Husain, F.N. Souza and Krishen Khanna, as well as some of the more contemporary and current artistes like Anjolie Ela Menon, Manjit Bawa, and Arpana Caur.

The paintings display the vibrancy and dynamism of Indian art during the 20th century, said a statement from the Indian embassy here that has organised the exhibition.

The exhibition represents an underlying emphathetical harmony in the aesthetic stimulus of Indian art and the seamless manner in which several artistic influences belonging to the traditional and modern styles have coalesced over the last century, the statement added.

The exhibition was inaugurated Tuesday by Indian Ambassador Ashok Sajjanhar at a glittering ceremony attended by a cross- section of lovers and admirers of Indian art and culture including members of the Kazakh parliament as well as several ambassadors from countries like Brazil, South Africa, Japan, Romania, Spain, Austria and Italy.

Speaking on the occasion, Sajjanhar said that the exhibition represents the completion of a productive and fruitful year of expansion in bilateral relations since the visit of President (Nursultan) Nazarbayev to India as the chief guest at our 60th Republic Day celebrations in January 2009.

He pointed out that the last one year has seen significant deepening of engagement through several events organized by the Embassy like the India-Expo in Almaty in May 2009 and two grand gala concerts of Indian classical dances and music in Astana and previous capital Almaty and in November 2009.

Several contracts and agreements to further enhance and promote bilateral economic and commercial cooperation have been signed between companies of the two countries during this period.

Sajjanhar also expressed the hope that the exhibition of paintings by 14 eminent artistes of India would further strengthen people-to-people contact and promote understanding and cooperation between India and Kazakhstan.

Kalpana will be on display in Astana till Feb 13. After that, it will travel to Almaty and to Shymkent in south Kazakhstan.