Naya Lahore: Contemporary Art Practices in Lahore

By Prof. Salima Hashmi, artist, curator and contemporary art historian. Professor Hashmi was the founding Dean of the Mariam Dawood School of Visual Art and Design at Beaconhouse National University, Lahore

 

In Milton's Paradise Lost, when God creates Adam and tells him what riches he is heir to, he says, "and you will see the Lahore of the Moghuls". Presumably, the blind poet was acquainted with the magic of Lahore. But not only poets, artists and musicians have, for centuries, been dedicated to Lahore. Often having to pay dearly for this passion

 

Naya Lahore looks at more recent times and examines contemporary art practices which have blossomed in the city in the last three decades. Owing a great deal to the political, social and art educational circumstances which have instigated and nurtured artists, Lahore has been a significant player at so many levels. Defying the odds and difficult terrain, strong contemporary art practices have emerged to define the City and make it proud

 

The Ila Dalmia Memorial Lecture 2017 

 

(Collaboration: Foundation for Indian Contemporary Art (FICA), supported by Yashodhara Dalmia )

 

 

Kathak Recital

By Sonali Roy from Delhi, disciple of Pt. Birju Maharaj

 

 

Three Hundred Verses

A discussion on Bhartrihari’s collection of poems, translated from the Sanskrit by Shri A.N.D. Haksar, well-known translator of Sanskrit classics including Hitopade?a, Simh?sana Dv?trim?ika, Subh?shit?vali, Kama Sutra, The Courtesan’s Keeper, The Seduction of Shiva, Suleiman Charitra and Raghuvamsam, all published in Penguin Classics.  He was also India’s Ambassador to several countries

 

Discussants: Dr. Bibek Debroy and Shri Ashok Vajpeyi

Chair: Shri Shashi Tharoor

 

Three Hundred Verses, Bhartrihari, one of the greatest Sanskrit poets of all time, brilliantly expounds on our most enduring concerns and dilemmas: living, loving and leaving. Although composed centuries ago, these poems amply display the full force of his genius 

 

By turns playful and wise, A.N.D. Haksar’s gorgeous and accessible translation captures the verve, acuity and erotic charge of Bhartrihari’s most significant work

 

(Collaboration: Penguin Random House)

 

Afro-Balcan Wake-up

Concert by Vocal Rasta, Teamwork Arts from Delhi

Conductor: Antoine Redone

 

Vocal Rasta is a Delhi based a cappella group of fifteen singers who’s repertoire include songs from African to Romani traditions, Bob Dylan and Negro spirituals

 

Vocal Rasta singers - Aditi Rastogi, Ushmeet Kaur, Swati Bhatt (sopranos); Shivangi Saxena, Ritika Singh (altos); Vipul Singh, Ujjwal Dubey, Aman Negi, Astitwa Saxena (tenors); Akshar Bhan, Antoine Redon, Stephen Kumar, Manikaant Suryan & Shantanu Pandit (bass)

 

 

ART MATTERS

V. Ramesh in conversation with Madhu Jain

 

(Collaboration: The Raza Foundation)

 

 

India At 70: Relations with the International Monetary Fund

Speaker: Shri V. Srinivas, IAS, Chairman Rajasthan Tax Board and Chairman Board of Revenue for Rajasthan, Indian Council Of World Affairs Fellow 2017

 

 

 

Zikr us Parivash Ka (In Praise of that Angel Face)

(63 min; 2015; dvd; English subtitles)

Directed by Nirmal Chander Dandriyal who will introduce the film

Produced by Sangeet Natak Akademi

 

Recipient of the Award For Best Biographical/Historical Reconstruction, National Film Award 2016; Best Camera Award, IDSFFK, Kerala 2017; and Jury Award, IFFS, Shimla 2017

 

Screening will be followed by a discussion

 

Film on one of the last legendary courtesans of India, Begum Akhtar. The film weaves together accounts of those who remember her with undimmed fondness and warmth despite the passage of years

 

FOR IIC MEMBERS ONLY 
ENTRY BY INVITATION ONLY
PASSES ARE AVAILABLE AT THE PROGRAMME OFFICE (IIC)  BETWEEN 10.00 AM TO 17:00 ONLY ON WORKING DAYS

 

The 21st Century: Geo-politics, Democracy and Peace

Release of a book by Shri Balmiki Prasad Singh (New Delhi: Routledge, 2017)

 

By Hon’ble Vice President of India, Shri Venkaiah Naidu

 

Followed by a discussion

 

(Collaboration: Routledge; and Gandhi Smriti)

 

 

Scientific Temper in Education

Main speakers: Prof. R. Ramanujam, The Institute of Mathematical Sciences, Chennai; and Prof. Ronald DeSouza, Centre for the Study of Developing Society

 

(Collaboration: Embassy of Indonesia)

 

 

 

RASAJA MUSIC AND DANCE FESTIVAL

 

Odissi Dance

Choreographies by Guru Madhavi Mudgal, presented by her disciples

 

 

(Collaboration: Rasaja Foundation)