12-18.06.2018
Delhi Artists Exhibit in IRMT
On June 12-18, 2018 the group show of painting, drawing and sculpture by two Delhi- based artists from Punjab Bhupinder Dhutti and Shiv Chander Ahuja took place in the Himalayan Roerich Estate in Naggar. The show was inaugurated by another Delhi-based artist Ghan Shyam Kashyap and the Indian Curator of the International Roerich Memorial Trust (IRMT), Naggar.
Mr. Ahuja exhibited his continuing series of ink drawings in abstract style on Sufi themes that this time included his original vision of the famous Indian Sufi master Sheikh Farid, and highly symbolic representations of soul’s eternal aspiration for the Divine and man’s spiritual journey.
He also displayed some of his newly created bronze sculptures which continue his series on the common man of India and include the images of shepherd, travelling family, travelers sleeping at railway station, and a philosophical reflection on the futility of modern rat race titled “Way of Life.” Of no little interest were the results of the art workshop he recently conducted for the inmates of the Tihar Jail in Delhi.
Bhupinder Dhutti displayed 18 of his watercolours executed in realistic style mainly focusing on the Himalayan region. Most of them depicted the beauty of Himachal and, more specifically, Kullu Valley. Just like Nicholas and Svetoslav Roerich several decades earlier, Mr. Dhutty is fascinated by the Pahari-style Kullu houses that form an inalienable part of the Himalayan landscape. Over the years he has observed that traditional Himachali architecture and, indeed, the entire way of Pahari life, are closely connected with nature. In his works he aptly captures this intricate connection. With a keen eye for detail he depicts local houses with carved wood verandahs and slate roofs, and the village dwellers going about their daily chores.
The artist is also chagrined by the gradual disappearance of traditional architectural styles of Himachal and believes his effort in capturing them helps to keep them alive. “I revive what is almost entirely dead,” proudly says Mr. Dhutti echoing the sentiment of Nicholas Roerich who is also known for his campaign to preserve historic monuments and other cultural properties.
The inauguration ceremony was attended by the Russian volunteers from the International Centre of the Roerichs, Moscow and the teaching staff of the Helena Roerich Academy of Arts for Children managed by the IRMT who dazzled the audience with the raging colours of their traditional costumes, Russian and Kulvi respectively, and once again reminded the audience of the role of the IRMT as the focal point of Indo-Russian cultural fusion.
Simultaneously, the above mentioned exhibiting artists held a four-days-long art camp on the IRMT territory. Apart from the organizers, the art camp brought together five artists from Delhi, Amritsar and Allahabad who for several days worked outside capturing on canvas the beauty of Naggar and its environs.
