ART AGAINST TERROR - REKHA MODY

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Objectives

In keeping with India's established tradition of meeting rest violence with non violence and destruction with renewed creativity, Habiart Foundation (India) staged a creative protest via the medium of visual art. Titled Sphote, a Sanskrit word meaning creative sound the regional workshops aimed to counter the act of violence and demolition (Visphote) by painting on the spot, images related to peace.

Beginning 2001 April and ending October 2002, the project involved one hundred and fifty Indian artists and designers, along with nine artists from Nepal.
Fourteen peace panels (each consisting of nine canvases measuring one square foot) were designed as expression of peace.

Renowned writers Ashok Vajpai, Chitra Mudgal, Dr. Saryu Doshi, Dr. B.K. Modi, Gagan Gil, Ian Baker, Ramesh Shah along with eminent personalities, S.K. Sharma, Nirmala Deshpande, Shivraj Patil, Lhatsun Rimpoche participated in the regional workshops.

Peace song was rendered by the famous singer Soma Ghosh. His excellency Shri K.R. Narayan (Ex-President of India), Smt. Najma Heptulla (Deputy Chairperson - Rajya Sabha), Shri Digvijay Singh (CM, MP), Mr. Feaoder Starcevic (Director UN Information Centre) and His Excellency Mr. Q.A.M.A. Rahim - SAARC Secretary General were presented rice paper drawings and peace panels as a gesture of solidarity.

ART AS A MEDIUM

Visual images are as powerful as reality and, once seen, cannot be easily destroyed. Thus the paintings designed by the artists are also a testament to the empathy felt by the global community with all those have suffered. In the words of an eminent artist, Satish Gujral, "art is the last defence of man against human follies."

Venue

Workshops were held in prime centers of contemporary art, namely - New Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Bhopal, Shantiniketan, and Nepal.

Partnering Organizations / Institutions

The project was supported by the Bharat Bhawan (Bhopal), Genesis Art Gallery (Kolkata), ICCR (Hyderabad), Kala Bhawan (Shantiniketan), Katayun Gallery (Kolkata), Modi Foundation (New Delhi), Montage Art (New Delhi), National Gallery of Modern Art (Mumbai), Siddhartha Art Gallery (Nepal) and the Parliamentarian Forum for Human Development (New Delhi).