Both India and South Africa have shared histories of politics and nationhood.  Particularly  in  their  dream  to  achieve independence  and  freedom  from  their  colonial masters, both nations  had  to  draw upon  the national pride  and  human resources  of  the land.  Both  had  iconic  leaders  Mahatma Gandhi--  The  Father  of  the  Nation (India)  who  used  unusual tools of  resistance like  Satyagraha/ Truth   and  Non  Violence. South  Africa  on  the  other  hand  had  Nelson  Mandela  (still living) who  too  used  a  peaceful  tool  of  resistance  where  his greatest  sacrifice was  of his personal  freedom living in  solitary confinement  for  17  years in  Robben  Island.

Both  these  leaders  one  dead(Gandhi) and one  alive(Mandela)  have contributed  significantly  to  the language of  humanity. In fact their  means  of gaining  freedom,  dignity and  a peaceful  world order  are  becoming  increasingly  relevant in  the  present  world of  terror.

The idea behind the exhibition is to make meaningful work to sensitize  the  viewer to  the  notions  of  peace and  truth, of dignity,  equality  and non  violence.  Any  notions  or  ideas of either  leaders  can be  re-created  into your personal  visual language.  The  key is not  to make the  work  essentialist but let it  be  potent  and powerful through  your  own  personal  and singular  translation  through  a  visual  communication.

	Dr. Alka Pande Curator

Dr Alka Pande is currently Consultant Arts Advisor and Curator of the Visual Arts Gallery at the India Habitat Centre in New Delhi & Art Consultant Religare Arts Initiative. She was awarded the Chevalier dans l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres by the French government. She is also the recipient of the Charles Wallace Award. Dr Pande has completed her post-doctoral studies in critical art theory from Goldsmith College, University of London after two postgraduate degrees.

Dr Alka Pande is a prolific writer on Indology and art history and is the author of several well-acclaimed books. Her next book deals with Shringara: Eternal Beauty. Dr.Pande has been responsible for curating several significant and perceptive exhibitions in India and abroad, and given a name to some of the most upcoming and influential artists, photographers and sculptors.

Participating Artists:
	AKSHAY RAJ SINGH RATHORE

Born in Chindwara, Madhya Pradesh, India, Akshay is based in Delhi
He has a PG from National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad & BFA from Faculty of Fine Arts, M.S University, Baroda.

	APARNA SWARUP

Aparna started pursuing art seriously in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. She studied Life Drawing in Hampstead, and Life Painting and Mixed Media Painting in Central St. Martins. Aparna has exhibited her paintings through the Heinrich Boll Foundation in Germany and several countries in East Africa. Her solo Exhibitions include “Creations” in Addis Ababa “Different Strokes” at the Nehru Centre London. RISKY DREAMS inspired by the women of South Africa, in Johannesburg at Le Canard May in 2007. She is currently working for the solo show CONFLUENCE which opens in Durban this year.

	ARPANA CAUR

Arpana a distinguished painter has exhibited her work since 1974 across the globe. Her work can be seen in Museums of Modern Art in Delhi, Mumbai, Chandigarh, Dusseldorf, Singapore, Bradford, Stockholm, Hiroshima, Smithsonian Washington & Victoria and Albert Museum London. She was awarded a gold medal in VIth International Triennele 1986 in Delhi. She was commissioned by Hiroshima Museum of Modern Art to execute a large work for the 50th anniversary of the Holocaust in 1995, and by the cities of Bangalore & Hamburg to do large non­commercial murals in public spaces. Today her paintings support several projects for the underprivileged, including free vocational training in the Academy of Fine Arts and Literature of which she is the Founder Member.ka.

	BULBUL SHARMA

The main theme of Bulbul’s paintings is women and environment. She has had many solo shows in prestigious art galleries and has widely participated in group shows in India and abroad. She has varied interests and has attended art workshops for paper mache, recycled paper making, mono-printing and paper pulp craft for children.Her works are in Collections of National Gallery of Modern Art, Lalit Kala Akademi, Chandigarh Museum, National Institute of Health, Washington, The Nehru Centre, London, Maurya Sheraton Delhi, and many private collections in India and abroad.

	GOPIKA NATH

Gopika Nath is a Textile Designer, a Fiber Artist, a Writer, Poet and Teacher. A Fulbright Scholar, alumni of The Central School of Art and Design, London, U.K, she lives and works in the national capital region and is currently involved in various Art and Design activities. She writes on issues related to Art, Craft, Design and Textiles.

	HAKU SHAH

Born in Valod, Gujarat, Haku Shah has received several awards including the Padma Shri, the Nehru Fellowship and the Kala Ratna for his contribution to art. A Gandhian, an eminent painter, he is also a cultural anthropologist, an author of international repute on folk and tribal art. He taught at a Gandhian Ashram in south Gujarat for several years. He established a tribal museum at Gujarat Vidyapeeth in Ahmedabad which was set up by Mahatma Gandhi.

	HEMI BAWA

Hemi started her initial discipline from Triveni Kala Sangam in 1969. She developed an interest in kiln – fired cast glass sculptures after seeing glass work in Scandinavia, characterized by substantial texture and depth.

After her first exhibition of paintings at Triveni, New Delhi in 1990, she has exhibited her paintings and sculptures around the world including at the Sculpture2000.org in Connecticut, Sculpture Garden in Tuscany & Genkan Gallery in Tokyo. She was commissioned by Coca Cola to make a sculpture for the Olympic Games in 1996 The 8 ft high Coke sculpture is in the Coke museum at Atlanta. Her art also forms part of the permanent collections of the Corning Museum of glass in New York.

	MAHUA SEN

Mahua Sen works around existentialist themes influenced by contemporary life as much and reflects rather subtly the philosophies and spirituality of an Indian life. Mahua's  first solo show 'To the other side' , opened at The India Habitat Centre in  October 2007 & at  The Next Awakening Show, featuring emerging new artists of India in 2008. Her works of art are due for showing in Singapore and Amsterdam later in 2008. She runs an art and film company and works with some of the leading media companies in India.

	MANISHA BHATTACHARYA

Manisha Bhattacharya has been trained from the New York State College of Ceramics, Alfred on a Fulbright Fellowship. She has also studied at the School of Art& Design, Cardiff on a Charles Wallace India Trust Award. On an Inlaks Grant she went to study under Jane Hamlyn in U.K..She learnt pottery from Deborah Smith & Ray Meekar in Pondicherry, Nirmala Patwardhan at Garhi and Mansimran Singh at Delhi Blue Pottery. She has been working with clay for the last two decades.Tehelka.

	MANI SURI

Mani Suri is an economist by training. She acquired a degree in graphic design from Washington DC and worked on a range of coffee table books as a free lance designer in London. Since coming to Johannesburg in 2006, she has dabbled in painting, handmade pottery and decoupage.

This thought provoking canvas depicts Mahatma Gandhi's iconic charkha or spinning wheel as the symbol of harmony while the chaotic red clay pieces reflect disorder around us.

	PARTHIV SHAH

An alumnus of the National Institute of Design, India, and visiting scholar at the University of California, Davis and SOAS, London University, Parthiv is a photographer, film maker and a graphic designer. He has made several documentary films, curated exhibitions and has several photo-books to his credit. He is founder-Director of Centre for Media and Alternative Communication (CMAC). His photographs have been exhibited in India, Australia, Bangladesh, Germany, Netherlands, Japan, Switzerland, Spain, Russia, U.K., U.S.A.

	Rana ROY

Rana has a 5 years diploma in applied arts from Government College of Art & Craft & 4 years diploma in fine arts from College of Visual Arts, Kolkata He has Participated in many workshops on painting , graphic designing and visual art in India, Bangladesh and Singapore.

	ROHIT SHARMA

Rohit Kumar Sharma has a B.F.A. Painting (painting & printing) from College of Art, New Delhi & Diploma in Painting. He has exhibited extensively in cities across India and his painting are displayed at the Prime Minister’s House, College of Art & The Hungarian Embassy, New Delhi His many awards include Biswanath Mukerjee Award from College of Art,. He is currently teaching at NiA (New institute of Advertising) Pvt. Ltd.

	SANJAY BHATTACHARYA

Sanjay Bhattacharyya received a Diploma in Fine Arts in Kolkatta in 1982 Some of his solo shows have been displayed at Bose – Pacia Modern. New York, A.R.K.S., London, Jehangir Art Gallery Mumbai and Birla Academy of Arts & Culture Kolkatta & Art Galleries in Delhi.

	SATISH GUPTA

A versatile artist, Satish Gupta is a painter, sculptor, poet, writer, printmaker, skilled draftsman, muralist, designer, calligrapher and ceramicist all in one. He has been exhibited in more than 32 solo shows in India and abroad. Satish gives lectures and has participated in international camps, seminars and art events including three poetry festivals in Spain. He has been invited to create a lithograph as part of the official Olympic Portfolio Beijing.

	SEEMA KOHLI

Seema Kohli’s inimitable style and visual renditions on canvas have made her one of the most sought after artists in our times. In her paintings, women occupy prime position. Her paintings have become the icon of procreation and fertility and are symbolic of the continuing cycle of life.

	TARUN JUNG RAWAT

Tarun Jung Rawat, 34 yrs of age, graduated from the National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad, in 2001, with a specialization in Graphic Design. In 2004 he received his Masters in Interaction Design from the Interaction Design Institute Ivrea, in Italy. He has since displayed his artworks and presented papers on the subject of Interaction Design in a number of countries in Europe and Asia.

	YUSUF ARAKKAL

Yusuf Arakkal’s works are displayed in many private and institutional collections all over the world.His works have been auctioned by Sotheby’s and Christies in London and New York. He has received the Karnataka State Academy and the National Award, as well as the Lorenso de Medici Silver medal at Florence International biennale & the Lorenso de Medici Gold Medal at the Vth Florence International Biennale – 2005. He lives and works in Bangalore India.