Like Elizabeth Broun very rightly says, “Art is not always about pretty things. It is about who we are, what happened to us and how our lives are affected.” History has played testimony to the fact that Art has always held the power to transform society just as Art is always influenced by the surroundings, events and mindset of the people at any given point of time. Even though its relevance can be undermined, the impact it has is incomparable, as it defies the divisiveness of society, caste, religion, gender and financial status. Visual language enjoys the freedom of expression and the process of creation, as much as it allows differentiation in perspective. In a world where people struggle to find common ground, we want to use Art as a means of bringing people together.
When I think back at my most initial memories, I recall observing people who were passionate in expressing their ideas because as a child it caught my attention. Even though I didn’t always understand the conversation, I think subconsciously it impacted my thought process and I started believing that when one finds something one is truly passionate about, it has the potential to touch lives and transform the world. For me visual language became that tool. While on one side I was exploring the process of expression through visuals, on the other I was absorbing and observing what existed around me. Growing up in an environment where I was constantly surrounded by artists, connoisseurs and art enthusiasts, I got an insight into a world that otherwise only a few understood. The legacy that I inherited from my father who is a senior artist and was the ex vice chairman of Lalit Kala Academy; and mother who has been a curator, art adviser and ran a successful Art Gallery in Delhi, has been the biggest gift for me. Because of the insight into the industry from all quarters, I was able to identify the challenges people were facing in and outside the art fraternity. Most people in the country didn’t understand Art and its role in our lives or they felt that one needed a certain eclectic intellect with a combination of deep pockets to be able to afford it. On the other hand even the ones that had substantial interest, found it hard to trust the authenticity of the art works or advice of the ones initiating the sale. Hence, they became observers and appreciators rather than buyers and investors. This impacted the artists too. Hence, the realisation of the need for a venture like Art for Unity.
India has always had a rich cultural heritage and an abundance of art. Through Art for Unity we want to create a platform that is incorporative and where there is something for everyone. We want to use Art as a tool for reflection, storytelling, historical analysis, problem solving, bringing people together, social/environmental education, multiplication of wealth, means of expression and creation. It is amazing how much potential Art as a medium has and how little we have actually been able to utilize it.
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