• EVENT WILL HELP UNLOCK STATE’S TOURISM POTENTIAL, SAYS NAVJOT SIDHU

New Delhi/Chandigarh, February 24:

A landmark event, titled Punjab Panorama, awaits art and history lovers alike, with the historic Qila Mubarak all set to host the first international contemporary arts forum on March 3-4, 2018.

This is the first time that the historic fort will be presented to history and culture aficionados in this engaging manner, thus unlocking the huge untapped tourism potential of Punjab – the land of the Sikh Gurus – and present Brand Punjab to the world, State Tourism and Culture Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu said at a press conference here today.

The inaugural event will be marked by opening remarks from Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh, along with the Greek Ambassador and the Consul General Canada. A souvenir book will be launched during the event, which will also witness a special programme on March 5 for the visiting dignitaries in Chandigarh, where they will be taken through a special tour of Pierre Jeanneret’s contribution to Chandigarh, along with high tea at the Raj Bhavan with the Punjab Governor  Aimed at showcasing Punjab’s hybrid history through a blend of international, regional and local art, the innovative event is a holistic package, carrying the stamp of various globally renowned cultural organisations.

The event, which will bring together internationally reputed cultural representatives, including, artists, museum directors, musicians, historians and curators, is being organised in collaboration with several embassies and is supported by Punjab government. Among the participants are Greece, Canada, Swiss Arts Council, Goethe Institut and Asia Society.

The programme will be marked by panel discussions and presentations that explore Punjab’s culture and history through artifacts, films, and architecture, in the framework of “Punjab as Protagonist” and “Hybrid Aesthetics”. It will see the representation of five major world museums (Denmark, Greece, UK, USA, Canada), 11 international film artists, 3 international performance artists and 3 Indian performance artists.

Giving details, Sarah Singh, founder-director of Panorama Punjab and noted international artist herself, said a major highlight of the programme will be a curated exhibition of international film work by female artists from around the world. Besides Sarah, the international artists would also include Meghan Boody, Carla Gannis, Gudrun Barenbrock, and Bahar Behabani, among others.

Dr. Mirjam Gelfer, former Deputy Director of the Design Museum Denmark, will make a presentation on “Japanese influence on Danish design”.  Susan Stronge, senior curator at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, will give a presentation on “Arts of the Punjab”. Dr. Elisavet Tsigarida, Director of the Ephorate of Antiquities of the Pella Museum in Greece, will make a presentation on “When the Greeks Met the Indians” which traces the cultural impact and legacy of Alexander the Great.

A special conversation on fashion, dedicated to Patialvi Parmeshwar Godrej, will be conducted between fashion designer JJ Valaya and Jill Spalding, a legendary journalist and editor who has worked with Vogue for nearly 40 years. Film Director Sudhir Mishra will make a special return visit to Patiala, where he lived during 1968-69, to talk about working with another famous Patialvi- the legendary actor Om Puri.

Gurmeet Rai, who did her Ph.D. on the Qila Mubarak, will explore its heritage and history in the present day, along with conversations on the idea for the “new” Punjab, which will also be participated by Sean Anderson, architectural curator from the MoMA; Martien de Vletter, Director of Collections at Canadian Center for Architecture in Montreal; and Sangeeta Bagga, current Principal of Chandigarh College of Architecture – a post originally held by Pierre Jeanneret. Masako Ono from Japan (and Odisha) and duo TTBWRS from Belgium will join performance artists from across India.

The event, which is open to all and has no entry fee, will conclude on Saturday evening with a Bossa Nova Jazz concert by a trio from Belgium – the Bossa Brothers.  Sunday evening will conclude with classical music that explores the musical connections from Iran to Afghanistan via Punjab and Kashmir, with noted instrumentalists on the Tombak, Esraj, Santoor, Tabla and Rubab.

Local youth participation from Panjabi University, Patiala, is a special highlight of the programme, which will see plays, photo series and demonstrations by fencing students.

ABOUT THE FOUNDER / DIRECTOR:

Born in Patiala to the Royal family, Founder and Director Sarah Singh is an award-winning artist and filmmaker whose work has been critically acclaimed and presented all over the world. Her most recent film is A Million Rivers – a black and white surrealist work starring Om Puri and Lillete Dubey.