Friends,
The Pune exhibition Launch of Let a Thousand Flowers Bloom at India House Gallery was a glittering event which once again opened the India House Gallery doors to Pune visual art aficionados who were thirsting for new artistic experience.
The exhibition, a tribute to the Renaissance Man of Odisha, late Dr Dinanath Pathy, was inspired by Odissi which had made a strong footing in Malaysia through the efforts of Sutra Foundation.
Ramprasad Akkisetti, the life-force of CCBA and India House Gallery could sense the spirit of master architect, the late Christopher Benninger, Ramprasad’s mentor & partner, present amidst the distinguished guests who thronged the launch, partaking in the auspicious occasion of the launch.
Ramli Ibrahim made a rare Odissi appearance with improvised dance performed to the Kolabati Pallavi of his guru, the late Shri Debaprasad Das.
Besides celebrities, eminent figures of the architect fraternity of Pune and several dance guru and dancers were also present. Mrinalini Pawar, Guru Shama Bhate, Anita Ratnam, Vaibhav Arekar and Ishwari Despande were among the guests who attended.
Ramprasad, one the key Pune corporate figures who has strived to promote more Arts & Culture to be part of Pune’s city personality, gave a spirited key-note address followed by speeches by eminent guests of honour for the occasion.
Dance celebrity Anita Ratnam, who missed the Chennai exhibition opening, was invited to banter with artists Ramahari Jena, Kishore Sahoo and Ramli.
Anita, who had been present in many of Sutra’s premiere in Kuala Lumpur, was able to contextualise the interconnection of visual arts, dance and film which layered and enriched Sutra’s visual arts experience at the India House Gallery.
Finally, the docu-film Radha Unbound: the Making & Touring of Radhe! Radhe! was also screened to further contextualise the presence of Odissi as the epitome of the soft India-Malaysia cultural diplomacy. In fact the genesis of this globalisation of culture had taken place millennia ago!
Recently, Modi Ji had renewed India’s tie with Malaysia just a month ago. He was greeted by 800 dancers performing to a stirring Indian dance ‘Swagatham’ in different costumes of Indian classical dances.
Ramli reminded the guests that the 21 artists featured, represented the people-to-people connect which had always existed before there were national boundaries and the need for visa to travel.
Sutra