05.06.2025

 Exhibition of the Chandigarh artists from the Kalanidhi Foundation for art and artists in Naggar

A collective exhibition of artists from Punjab was inaugurated at the Exhibition Hall of the International Roerich Memorial Trust on 5 June. The exhibition was presented by the Kalanidhi Foundation of Chandigarh, which is dedicated to supporting artists and their creative projects.

Artists Gurmeet Goldie and Bharti Vandana, founders of Kalanidhi Chandigarh, were present at the exhibition, along with works by many other artists supported by Kalanidhi. At the exhibition, the audience had the opportunity to view a selection of works by Ravinder Sharma, Prof. D.S.Kapoor, Rajinder Pasricha, Kanwal Pal Singh, Neenu Vij, Daljit Kaur, Manvir Kaur, Monica Kheterpal, Dr Vandana Malhotra, Sarita Mehta, Anubhav Som, Winky, Darshanjit Kiki, Poonam Rana, Malvika, Aarti, Khushi, Jagdeep Kaur, Yogita, Yashasvi and Navneet Kaur. 

The Kalanidhi Foundation collaborates with seasoned art professionals and emerging young artists. One of the Foundation's primary objectives is to provide a platform for self-realisation for those new to the field. At the exhibition at the IRMT, the works of both novice artists and well-known professionals formed a harmonious whole, creating a space where creativity could flourish.

One of the organisers, artist Bharti Vandana said that for her, the most important thing in art is hope and optimism, and that's best shown through clear and concise images in a subtle colour palette. The exhibition showed off her acrylic paintings on canvas, all with a minimalist vibe.

Gurmit Goldie, an artist with many years of creative experience, presented a series of vibrant abstract paintings rendered in coloured ink. The artist's work is reminiscent in its richness and depth of colour of Svetoslav Roerich's late symbolic, energetic works, in which he often used the technique of blurring.

The works of artist Kanwal Pal, who was also present at the exhibition, display a striking variety of style, materials and manner of execution. His watercolours convey the inner balance of simple everyday life in urban and rural India, while his acrylic paintings on canvas gravitate towards the avant-garde. The artist gifted to International Roerich Memorial Trust his painting created on spot which symbolically illustrates his journey from his native Chandigarh to Naggar.

At the exhibition's opening, the organisers provided a commentary on the featured paintings and their respective artists, with a particular focus on young talent. It is regrettable that the majority of the artists were unable to attend the opening of the exhibition. The guests expressed great interest in the works on display, with many commenting on both the technique and subject matter.

Dmitry Surgin, Assistant to the Russian Curator of the IRMT and an employee of the International Centre of the Roerichs, attended the opening of the artists' exhibition as a guest of honour. Representing the Roerich Trust and the ICR, he extended his best wishes to the artists and the Kalanidhi Foundation for future creative success and the exploration of new opportunities.