09.03.2025

Exhibition projects of the last month of the passing year at Roerich Estate

The final month of 2024 drew to a close at the renowned Roerich Estate, a venue known for its significant cultural and artistic contributions to the region. This time, the Estate hosted three noteworthy projects, which were proudly presented within the hallowed halls of the Trust's exhibition. These exhibitions offered a rich tapestry of artistic expression, showcasing works by diverse artists hailing from various corners of India. What is particularly noteworthy is the remarkable diversity in artistic styles and techniques on display, underscoring the depth and richness of artistic talent across the nation.

The New Year's exhibition marathon was launched by Sunil Kumar Chauhan's exhibition, titled 'Wonder of Colours'. The artist was born and raised in Himachal, in a place called Sundernagar near Mandi. The exhibition was inaugurated on December 25, the day of the Christmas Festival organised by the International Roerichs Memorial Trust with the direct support of the International Centre of the Roerichs (Moscow). The event was graced by the presence of children and their parents, who were the intended audience. The ribbon was ceremoniously cut by the artist's wife and Olga Karaseva, assistant to the Russian Curator. Mr Suresh Kumar, the Indian Curator, extended a warm welcome to the artist and his family on behalf of the Trust. He noted that this was not the artist's first exhibition at the IRMT and that it was always a great joy and celebration for art enthusiasts. In the traditional ceremony of lighting the lamp, made in the form of a peacock, participated as well, in addition to the adult guests, the youngest, including the artist's son.  

The official inauguration of the exhibition was scheduled for 31 December, marking the final day of the outgoing year. Olga Karaseva, assistant to the Russian curator, and other IRMT staff were present at the exhibition as guests of honour. Mrs Anjali Sethi Malhotra, the project's driving force and the exhibition's organiser, provided a highly informative tour, during which she offered detailed insights into the exhibited paintings, along with an account of the lives of the who created them.

Astitva, an innovative collective of artistic individuals, is notable due to the heterogeneity of its membership, encompassing practitioners who employ a variety of styles and techniques. Notably, the group encompasses a wide range of age groups, from young professionals to seasoned individuals with extensive experience in the creative sector. The name 'Astitva', derived from Sanskrit, consists of two parts: the verb form 'asti', meaning 'I am' or 'I exist' in Sanskrit, and the suffix 'tva', signifying 'suchness' or 'self-identity'. This suggests the fundamental basis upon which the collective of artists is grounded. The primary concept underpinning Astitva is self-identity, which is defined as the pursuit of one's own distinctive creative trajectory. For a significant proportion of the group members, their artistic endeavours serve as an outlet in an existence characterised by the weight of social expectations. Perceived by their peers and community as mothers, fathers, professionals, subordinates, relatives, acquaintances, and neighbours, artists embody a multifaceted role in society. However, beneath this quotidian veneer, there resides an artist-creator, whose works serve as a medium to articulate the resonances of mundane life phenomena and the profound inner processes that lie beneath them: dreams, thoughts, feelings, and insights. Moments of creativity are as important to human nature as being subject to the laws of this world, the existence of social roles. It is within the creative impulse that the artist attains his true self, his 'self-identity', 'suchness', irrespective of the prevailing circumstances.

The group comprises artists at various stages in their careers, ranging from those who have not yet defined their style and are inclined to creative experimentation, to established professional artists whose names are known to the general public, and self-taught artists who create at the call of inspiration.

It is Anjali Sethi Malhotra, the project's driving force, who has brought these diverse creative personalities together. The concept created by her has been a source of inspiration for very different creatives, those for whom creativity is truly an opportunity to find themselves, their true selves.

The Naggar project represented a distinctive experience for the artists involved. It was not merely an exhibition, but rather a genuine art camp. For a period of approximately seven days, the artists resided on the premises of the Roerichs' Estate, where they convened to commemorate the New Year in 2025 in a spirit of camaraderie. Throughout the duration of the project, the artists engaged in artistic creation on a daily basis, whether within the exhibition hall, the Estate, or amidst the natural surroundings such as a mountain slope offering vistas of the Beas River and the winter sun-drenched Himalayas. The artistic output encompassed a diverse range of subjects, including portraits of exhibition guests and local residents, as well as original depictions of reality. The artists were afforded the opportunity to immerse themselves in the unique and distinctive cultural milieu of the Kullu Valley.  They established amicable relationships with both local artists and their neighbour in the exhibition hall, Ankush Atthi. The atmosphere during their stay was one of creativity, friendliness, cooperation and joyful enthusiasm. The Astitva project has been demonstrated to have the capacity to awaken individuals to their innate, childlike, uncomplicated and joyful nature, not only in those participating in the project, but also in all those who engage with their work. The Astitva project has been shown to engender feelings of friendliness, enthusiasm and a desire to be oneself, to share joy and love, and to create. On this joyful and ‘New-Yearly’ note, the creative life of the Estate came to a close in 2024, passing the baton to the year 2025, which will also be rich in creative projects, exhibitions and cultural festivals.

The title of the exhibition, 'Wonder of Colours', was chosen for a reason. The artist's abstract canvases captivated audiences of all ages, owing to their vibrant colour palettes, vividness, and unconventional combinations of hues. For children, the exhibition provided a captivating imagination of scenes that served as a gateway to their own vivid, mysterious worlds populated by colourful characters. Adults, too, found themselves engaged in a philosophical dialogue, facilitated by the unusual abstract canvases that were the manifestation of the artist's talent by the medium of astonishing colour palette. This silent interaction between the artist's talent and the viewer's imagination, has undoubtedly led to new discoveries for the viewers. Sunil Kumar's artistic oeuvre can be likened to a series of enigmatic puzzles, whose resolution does not depend on rational thought, but rather on the emotional resonance of the viewer's spirit. A significant proportion of the works exhibited at the exhibition reflect subjects drawn from Hinduism and Indian philosophy, as well as the author's moments of his conscious existence, philosophical considerations about life and its meaning. The artist's exhibition witnessed remarkable popularity. On the 25th day, the Exhibition Hall of the Trust witnessed an influx of over 100 visitors.

The following art project, inaugurated on 30th December, was an exhibition by Ankush Atthi, an artist well knows to the visitors to the Trust and residents of Himachal, entitled 'The Essence of Art 7.0'. The artist, whose watercolours are characterised by their saturation and depth of colour, has been recognised with numerous awards at both the Indian and international level, in addition to actively participating in exhibitions and workshops. The previous occasion on which his oeuvre was displayed to the public in Himachal was in October, during the Dussera (Dashehra) festival in Kullu, at the creative plein air event which was organised by the Roerichs Trust in cooperation with the city administration. Ankush participated in the event along with artists from India, Russia, and other countries. Despite the fact that the artist was born and resides in the northernmost part of Punjab, which is located only in the foothills of the Himalayas, the call of the Himalayas is clearly felt in his works: many of them are dedicated to the nature of the Himalayas, their culture, holy places, flora and fauna. The inauguration of the exhibition was graced by the presence of the esteemed Superintendent of Police, Kullu District, Dr Karthikeyan Gokulachandran, who was the Guest of Honour. Also present were Mr Suresh Kumar, Indian Curator of IRMT, a group of artists led by Anjali Sethi Malhotra – their exhibition opened the next day, and other guests and staff of the Trust. 

Ankush Atthi facilitated an interactive tour of the exhibition for the audience, during which he shared his reflections on creativity, sources of inspiration, and the artist's mission. He places significant emphasis on conveying the unspoilt beauty of nature, a quality that is increasingly difficult to find in urban environments, and which, in the hectic daily lives of modern individuals, is often overlooked. The artist posits that his paintings, which so realistically reflect the pristine beauty of nature, will find their way to the heart of those who look at them and awaken something in them that will change their lives, making them travel more, appreciate nature and culture, and cherish the heritage of their native land.The artist presented the distinguished Guest of Honour with one of his paintings as a gift.

The Indian Curator, Mr Suresh Kumar, on behalf of the management and staff of the IRMT, also presented the distinguished guest with small colourful reproductions of Nicholas Roerich's works from the Trust's collection.

Dr Karthikeyan Gokulachandran also visited the second exhibition, which was about to be inaugurated at that time – the exhibition of the Astitva group of artists. He was keen to see the paintings and interact with the artists themselves.