Punjab Art Initiative inaugurated its third Edition

Mohali, September 29, 2024: Punjab Art Initiative, the Public Art Festival supported by Yuj Arts Foundation, commenced its third edition on Sunday. This year's theme, 'Transcending Boundaries,' inspires artists to create innovative artworks and sculptures that reflect their vision, imagination, and artistic talents. Harpal Singh Cheema, Finance Minister, Punjab inaugurated the festival. The ceremony commenced with a traditional lamp lighting ceremony and unveiling of the 'Kala Car. It was followed by a mesmerizing folk music performance, a live sand art show titled ‘The Timeless Journey of Art’, by Cannes 2015 nominee and Asia’s Got Talent S1 semi-finalist Nitish Bharti and a musical performance by Anmol Salh of Zee TV’s Sa Re Ga Ma Pa fame.

The inaugural evening also featured a live ‘Raga Mala’ miniature painting session by Anubhav Som, illustrating Indian musical ragas. Complementing this was an interactive live painting workshop by 15 student artists from Chandigarh university.

Over 300 art installations, sculptures, paintings, and photographs are displayed at the festival. The installations are by the students from Chandigarh University, Chitkara University, Chandigarh Lalit Kala Akademi, Sanskar Bharti Foundation, and other senior artists. The Kala Car is created in collaboration with the multidisciplinary artist Chitwan Singh Nanda, whose work is inspired by tradition and heritage. Transforming the walls of the basement at VR Punjab into an art gallery, The Basement Art Project displays the works of artists from G.A.S.P. Over the next month, VR Punjab will transform into a hub of artistic celebration, with installations, fine art, photography, exhibitions, workshops, young artists competition, art cinema screening, and an artisanal bazaar. 

This edition of the Punjab Art Initiative is driven by a series of significant collaborations, each contributing to the festival’s broader vision. A key partnership is with UNESCO New Delhi, in the areas of STEM, education, and culture. Highlights include a photo exhibition based on UNESCO’s publication “A Braided River: The Universe of Indian Women in Science,” a digital showcase titled Interwoven Legacies: Synergies between World Heritage and Living Heritage in India. 

Through a prestigious collaboration with Chandigarh Tourism, Punjab Art Initiative will display a collection of paintings and photography contributed by Le Corbusier centre. Also showcasing with PVR Cinemas, a special screening of “The Power of Utopia-Living with the Le Corbusier in Chandigarh” will be held on Oct 19th. Awarded “Best Film” at Venice Architecture Film Festival Italy (2023) among others, the film celebrates 70th anniversary of Le Corbusier's Chandigarh. In this feature, film makers Karin Bucher and Thomas Karrer accompany cultural workers, residents and celebrated artists reflecting on Le Corbusier's legacy, utopian urban ideas, and the cultural differences between East and West.

An international collaboration with the New York based Arts for the Future Festival, powered by the United Nations Civil Society Conference, further amplifies our reach among the global audience. Both festivals share a commitment to creating an inclusive ecosystem for artists and creative practitioners, making this partnership a natural extension of Punjab Art Initiative.

“Public Art Festivals over the last decade have enriched the cultural calendars of several Indian cities. Over the years we have expanded the scope of these festivals to act as catalysts for cultural preservation through strategic partnerships with organizations like UNESCO, Le Corbusier Centre, Chandigarh Tourism, Chandigarh Lalit Kala Akademi and the New York based Arts for the Future Festival which is powered by the United Nations Civil Society Conference. Our initiatives, such as the Artist Mentorship Program, provide emerging talent with opportunities to learn from established professionals. It brings me immense joy to unveil this incredible festival, inspiring collaborations and creating a dynamic platform for artists displaying large-scale installations, sculptures, mixed media works, photography, music, and dance. Punjab Art Initiative 2024 is bringing together a community of connoisseurs, art students, and patrons as well as the people of the Chandigarh Tricity in a celebration of the city’s art and culture. Through festivals like these, we are not only offering a platform to budding artists but also nurturing a sense of belonging and reverence for the city's rich cultural heritage,” said Sumi Gupta curator of the Punjab Art Initiative.

“The world’s-built heritage, natural heritage and living heritage are deeply interconnected. Recognizing this interdependence is central to ensuring that heritage-safeguarding efforts not only preserve the physical aspects of World Heritage sites but also sustain the living practices of communities handed down through generations that give these sites their deeper meaning and significance. The digital exhibition ‘Interwoven Legacies’ by UNESCO explores the interplay between 8 World Heritage sites in India and their associated living heritage expressions,” said Tim Curtis, Director and Representative UNESCO New Delhi South Asia Regional Office.

The festival is a dynamic convergence of diverse artistic expressions, talents, and projects. From Kadambari Misra's powerful "Iconic Women Project" that highlights the unsung female icons of history through photography and storytelling, to immersive works in abstract art, the event offers a profound exploration of creativity and heritage. Additionally, art displays by Padma Shri Shyam Sharma, Prof. Bheem Malhotra, Prof. Ranjan Mallik, Gurmeet Goldie and Prof. Ashima Banker contribute a spectrum of styles and perspectives, enriching the festival with their unique creations. Artist Chitwan Singh Nanda set a world record by creating the largest-ever linguistic and agricultural representation of a state, using indigenous grains to showcase Punjab's rich cultural heritage.

The Punjab Literature Festival is set to be one of the prominent highlights of the festival, featuring a distinguished lineup of authors for the audience to connect with. Among them are Sahitya Akademi and Mira Award-winning writer Nand Kishore Acharya, Yash Bharti Award-winning author Khushbir Singh Shaad, and celebrated authors like Durjoy Dutta and Dr. Ishinna Sadana. Other attractions include “Punjab in Focus” displaying compelling photographs of the city taken by both seasoned photographers and emerging talents. The Young Artists programme facilitated by Campus Dunia provides students with the opportunity to explore and express themselves through various artistic mediums. The Art Bazaar offers a curated market for local artisans to engage with their audience, accompanied by live music.

This year, the Public Art Festivals have partnered with Artreach, an NGO that works with artists to enrich the lives of vulnerable children, youth and women from marginalised communities in India, empowering participants through creativity and offering holistic learning experiences in the visual arts. For the Punjab Art Initiative, Artreach will collaborate with a local artist and community, conducting workshops with children to explore the experience of participating in a public arts festival, while learning new art making skills and ways of storytelling. 

Student artists participating in the Punjab Art Initiative 2024 will have the chance to be guided by renowned creators through the Public Art Festival's Artist Mentorship Program. Initiated in 2023, the program selects three student artists from each of six Public Art Festivals every year. These young artists will receive mentorship from esteemed creators, such as British contemporary artist Piers Bourke, artist and co-founder of the Kochi-Muziris Biennale Bose Krishnamachari, writer Ina Puri, Director of India Art Fair Jaya Asokan, ace heritage photographer Amit Pasricha, textile designer Sunita Shanker, contemporary artist Murali Cheeroth and art practitioner and pedagogue, Bhrigu Sharma.  

Collaborations with G.A.S.P, PVR, Campus Duniya, Kadamb Art, Sanskar Bharti, Chit1 Studios, Book Chor, Skyy, Fratelli, Dewar’s and NOS have been pivotal in driving the growth and success of this edition.

Punjab Art Initiative established in 2018, is a vibrant showcase of the diverse artistic expressions of Punjab. It is supported by The Yuj Arts Foundation and is also part of VR Punjab’s Connecting Communities© initiative that aims to encourage civic pride, strengthen the local economy, and enhance the city’s national and international image.