Global Nomadic Art Project 2015

Global Nomadic Art Project, India 2015

“Nature Renaissance”

Dates: 17^th November to 20^th December 2015

Venue:

Ahmedabad, Vadodara, Velavadar, Sasan Gir, Rajkot, Lakhpat,

Banni, Bhuj

Inauguration and Orientation:

Environmental Sanitation Institute, Gandhinagar on 19^th November 2015

Exhibition 1): ITM UNIVERSE, Vadodara, Gujarat on 20^th

December 2015

Exhibition 2): Korean Cultural Centre, India in 2016

Travelling Exhibition: In various major cities of India till 2016

Project Executor – Training and Research in Environment and Ecological Science (TREES), New Delhi

Project Initiator: YATOO- Korean Nature Artists Association, South Korea.

Concept

Global Nomadic art projects was designed to offer national/international Nature artists an opportunity to explore our country’s geography, environment, culture and history while travelling around, and to be directly inspired and respond through their visual language during the tour, by using the available found natural mediums from area using once own body and camera and moving further without living any trace like Nomads.

This project intends to investigate the Global perspective on nature, its influence on lifestyles, and ultimately the way human nature as part of nature has shaped human life. This investigation will help artists understand how it is that Nature Art could have initiated and developed spontaneously, and examine its formative potential as a universal form of human expression, with consideration to how it can be relevant in everyday life.

Participating artists was given time to research the areas they visited and discuss them with one another. The land and its culture was uniquely interpreted and reshaped by the artists as art forms to be displayed in the exhibiting space. The project had intended to help expand the horizons of the artists’ practices and particularly to provide the insights into various aspects of the heritage, art and culture.

Additionally, the project aims to lead artists to consider how to renew the peaceful relationship between nature and humanity, distancing themselves from the violent methodologies of developing nature, and instead experiencing the ways that our ancestors lived with nature, which is retained in traditional lifestyles, houses and other facets of our cultural heritage.

This was a process-based art project that involves preliminary visits, investigations, and field work and record-keeping, which therefore did not only focus on results. Creative ideas and interpretations were required throughout the project. The whole process is documented in written texts, photographs and videos.

Work – The Artist as Nomad move forward with the curiosity of a child who wonders what exist beyond the mountain. They proceed playing with nature and creating artworks in the form of installation art, performance art with the use of their body and camera as the only tool. The artists leave their artworks in nature and moves further.
Aim – The aim is to achieve a nomadic attitude and create art with unconventional medium which is by the nature, of the nature and for the nature. The aim is to develop a new language in today’s art scene and to create awareness and sensitisation to the locals toward s protecting environment and wisdom of respecting the endangering natural resources.
Ethos – We do not leave a trace behind; we are not making art with the intention of buying and selling or taking it for viewing in gallery, we seek a spirit of pure art within this project.

Participants: Rumen Mihov Dimitrov (Bulgaria), Fred Martin (France), Eross Istvan (Hungary), Ya-chu Kang (Taiwan), Nicola Gear (Scotland), Roy Staab (USA), Peter Alpar (Romania), Cornelia Konrads (Germany), Saulius Valius & Diana Radaviciute (Lithuania) , Mahmoud Maktabi (IRAN)

South Korea – Kang-Hee-joon, Ko-Hyun hie, Hur-Kang, Ri- Eung-woo, Kim Hye Sik, Ha-Jung Su, Kim- Seong Eun

India- Alok Bal (Vadodara), Aarrti Zaveri – (New Delhi), Megha Joshi (New Delhi), Shivkumar Verma (Vadodara), Rinku Chauhan (New Delhi), Manjot Kaur (Chandigarh), Sikan Kumar Panda (New Delhi), Somu Desai (New Delhi), Bhavin Mistry (Vadodara), Gunjan Tyagi (New Delhi), Devang Anglay (Ahmedabad),

Documentation Team from Iran- Reyhane Omidghaemi, Makan Ashouri

Date	Place	Site Visit and Nature Art Workshops	Presentation’s / Seminar’s/ Orientation’s	Collateral Activities
NOV
17	Ahmedabad	Mahatma Mandir	Orientation of Environmental Sanitation Institute (ESI)
18	Gandhinagar & Modhera	Sun Temple Modhera/ Rani ni Vav, Adalaj ni Vav
19	Gandhinagar & Reach Vadodara	Sabarmati Ashram	GNAP India Orientation at ESI
20	ITM Universe, Vadodara	Baroda Museum
21	ITM Universe, Vadodara & Reach Velavadar	ITM Campus
22	Velavadar	Bird Watching and Blackbuck Sanctuary,	Artist Presentation 1, Nature Art Workshop 1	Interaction with local artist from Bhavnagar
23	Reach jiani Garamli	Jiani Garamli Village	Home Stay	Meet Village locals
24	Reach Sasan Gir		Nature Art Workshop 2
25	Sasan Gir	Lion Sanctuary Route.2, Maldhari Community & Siddi Dance	Artist presentation 2

26	Sasan Gir	Devalia Safari Park and interpretation Centre	Artist presentation 3 Nature Art Workshop 3
27	Sasan Gir	Chaggada (bullet rickshaw) trip to Nesda	Artist presentation 4 Nature Art Workshop 4	Interaction with Forester’s and Environmentalist at Gir
28	Sasan Gir & Reach Rajkot	Folk singing	GNAP Presentation for Important invitees.	Cultural program and presentation followed by Dinner with locales of Rajkot.
29	Rajkot & Reach Bhuj	Indubhai Parekh School of Architecture (IPSA) Rajkot		Interaction with IPSA students
30	Bhuj	Chadva Rakhal (Dam)	Artist Presentation 5 Nature Art Workshop 5	Local photography artists will join in.
DEC
1	Bhuj	Tapkeshwari	Artist Presentation 6 Nature Art Workshop 6	Dinner organized by weavers of Bhujodi
2	Mandvi & Reach Lakhpat	Mansi, Mandvi Port, Suthri Jain temple & Beach	Nature Art workshop 7	Meeting mentally challenged girls in Mansi and Ship Model maker.
3	Lakhpat Fort and village	Lakhpat Fort, JM Tomb, Lakhpat Village,	Artist presentation 7 Nature Art workshop 8
4	Lakhpat	Koteshwar, Narayan Sarovar and Mangrove forest	Nature Art Workshop 9	Community Interaction
5	Chari Dhandh and Reach Kalo Dungar	Kirodungar trekking Chari Dhandh bird watching	Nature Art Workshop 10
6	Kalo Dungar	Kalo Dungar (black mountain	Artist presentation 8
7	India Bridge, Kuran	Surrounding of India bridge and Kuran	Artist Presentation 9 Nature Art workshop 11
8	Sadhara	Sadhara (Unique landscape)	Artist Presentation 10 Nature Art Workshop 12
9	Hodka,	Hodka Village, White desert (Agrocel side)	Artist Presentation 11 Nature Art Workshop 13
10	Reach Bhuj	Pragmal Palace, local market, Hunnarshala foundation		Meet Skilled craftsmen
11	Bhuj & Reach Vadodara	Shrujan and Ajarakhpur		Skilled dye and printmakers
12 – 18	ITM Universe, Vadodara	Final Workshop	Presentation of works by participating artists for students of ITM And Presentation of works by invited Artists from Vadodara	Students of ITM participating in Final Workshop
19	ITM Universe, Vadodara	Mounting the Exhibition		Submission of Photographs and Text from Local Participants
20	ITM Universe, Vadodara	Exhibition Opening of GNAP India 2015	Nature Art Conference GNAP till 2018

* Schedule is subject to change according to situation.

About Places:

Gujarat’s varied habitat has a fascinating diversity of ecosystems and geographical fault having its own charm in its own environment. The region of Saurashtra and Kacchh is considered to be a rich repository of Cultural and Historical inheritance that has managed to survive the vicissitudes of time. It is recognized, yet today, as one of the living traditions with people of Diverse communities ranging from nomadic tribes to city-dwellers and Cultural expressions ranging from property to architecture. The land, though and harsh in nature, has not only allowed people to settle, giving them food and shelter, but has given life and opportunity to blossom as an individual and collectively as a society. Thus, playing an important role in the process of weaving the very fabric of our Indian Civilization

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ENVIRONMENTAL SANITATION INSTITUTE, Gandhinagar, Ahmedabad (ESI). The new state of the art Environmental Sanitation Institute– Sughad was created to stimulate awareness of and tackle the problems in the areas of health, hygiene, sanitation, water, and the environment. The method of working, the ideals of the establishment, as well as the built environment of the institute exemplify the Gandhian philosophy, primarily the principle that every human activity should take from nature only what can be restored. http://www.esi.org.in/

ITM UNIVERSE, VADODARA is situated on the bank of Vishwamitri River amidst greens of Mangoes & Sapodillas orchards, in pollution free natural surroundings near Dhanora Lake. A Technical campus established in

2011, has been constructed across 50 acres of land housing beautiful Art works done by national and international Artist and Sculptures. The campus has become an Art Hub with the presence of contemporary sculptures created by well-known artists from different parts of the world, creating their best, using various materials. The monumental sculptures and paintings within the campus adds another dimension to its learning environment. www.itmuniverse.ac.in

VELAVADAR is a unique grassland ecosystem that has attracted fame its blackbucks, beautiful, fast creatures, which sport elegant spiralling horns. It’s also good for spotting birds such as wintering harriers, and the strange nilgai, which look half-horse, half-cow. Velavadar is dry and arid.. The ecosystem of the park houses four distinct habitats, grassland, shrub land, saline land and high tidal lands.

JHIANI GARAMLI (Home Stay), is a small old village en-route on our way to Sasan Gir. The people of village are warm and welcoming. The night stay and hospitality was facilitated by Mr. Arvind Mistry from Mumbai in his own home in the village. It was a home stay experience for the artist.

SASAN GIR Forest is the largest compact tract of dry deciduous forest in Gujarat and the only abode of the Asiatic Lion in the world. Besides the Asiatic Lion, Gir supports a large population of Leopard, and other carnivores and Over 300 bird species have been recorded here. A cattle-herding group known as the Maldharis (Mal-livestock and Dhari – guardian) has long inhabited the forests of Gir On the fringes of the forest are another curious group of people known as the Siddis. These, people are of pure African descent and, although they have adopted Gujarati dress, language and food, bear testimony to the close ties that have existed between Gujarat and the east coast of Africa.

RAJKOT – Interactions of GNAP India Artists with the students of Indubhai Parekh School Of Architecture (IPSA) is planned under the guidance of its Dean Mr. Hitesh Changela. IPSA builds its foundations on such an inheritance allowing the building to deal with contemporary issues of Identity, Housing and Habitat more sensitively.

Mr. Haresh Soni, proprietor of Jewelery brand “Premji Valji Jewellers” has also kindly consented to host our crew members at their farm house in Rajkot with a gathering and interactions with known architects and designers.

CHAVDA RAKHAL – dense jungle littered with ruins of ancient dwellings and a 3 km trek leading to an ancient Shiva Temple where the deity is in a subterranean cave, it’s a private property of the Jadeja Royal Family of Kutch. The jungle surrounding it is dense with ancient teak, banyan, babool and numerous other trees and herbs. The place is still pristine with a rough edge and time seems to have stood still.

TAPKESHWARI HILL RANGES – THR is the largest unexplored hilly tract in the district. It is close to Bhuj City, and provides a high diversity of floral species in various vegetation types. Threatened plants habitats like Euphorbia scrubs, Prosopis scrubs, thorn mixed scrubs, open scrubs, thorn mixed forests. Considering the high floral diversity and unique vegetation assemblage of this range, it has been suggested that, this tract and adjoining sites may be declared as Ecologically Sensitive Areas. Our Tapkeshwari trek is conducted by Mr. Kiran Waghela (Environmentalist, Architect and Artist)

MANDVI is a port city in the Western Part of India in the Kutch, Gujarat region. It is famous for its beaches and centuries old ship building yard. We may also drive past the Ship Building Yard halt and jump one of the ship under works.

SUTHRI is a village enroute our journey to Lakhpat, there is a beach that is beautiful and picturesque, clean and quiet, the beach has more than a kilometer of pristine white sand beach. Its waters are pure, serene and crystal-clear.

LAKHPAT Once an important port city but now virtually abandoned for almost 200 years. A place where you can imagine the rise and decline of a great port city, and simultaneously contemplate the vast emptiness of the desert and the sea. Gulf of Kutch is one of the few coastal zones in the world having rich biodiversity. It comprises of mangroves, Coral reefs, Mudflats, Seaweeds, Commercial Fishes and several rare marine species. The mangroves of the gulf are the second largest after the Sunderbans in the mainland of India.

CHHARI DHANDH and KIRO DUNGAR Chhari means salt affected and Dhandh means Shallow wet-lands. This places is a paradise for bird watchers and omithologists, having around 370 bird species and is particularly rich in raports, water fly, waders and larks. The wetland of Rann also attracts more than one and a half lakh greater flamingos who hatch eggs in their large colony. ”This is the bigest camp of flamingoes in Asia. Kiro Dungar is an extinct volcano mountain in the Fulay Plains. Here you will find 65 million year old fossils of snails, shells, and other marine organisms

KALO DUNGAR (Black Mountain/Hills) From here, the entire northern horizon vanishes into the Great Rann, the desert and sky often becoming indistinguishable. It is one of the few non-coastal locations where you feel like you are at the edge of the earth, on the brink of incomprehensible vastness that fades off towards infinity. Looking out from the Black Hills, you can understand the tremendous effort that those who undertake the crossing of the Great Rann have to make.

PARTICIPATING ARTISTS:

RUMEN MIHOV DIMITROV	BULGARIA
FRED MARTIN	FRANCE
CORNELIA KONRADS	GERMANY
EROSS ISTVAN	HUNGARY
SAULIUS VALIUS	LITHUANIA
DIANA RADAVICIUTE	LITHUANIA
NICOLA GEAR	SCOTLAND
PETER ALPER	ROMANIA
YACHU KANG	TAIWAN
ROY STAAB	USA
MAHMOUD MAKTABI	IRAN
KANG HEE JOON	SOUTH KOREA
KO HYUN HIE	SOUTH KOREA
HUR KANG	SOUTH KOREA
EUNG WOO RI	SOUTH KOREA
HA JUNGSU	SOUTH KOREA
KIM HYE SIK	SOUTH KOREA
KIM NAMU	SOUTH KOREA

DOCUMENTATION TEAM FROM IRAN
REYHANE OMIDGHAEMI
MAKAN ASHOURI

INDIA
ALOK BAL	ORISSA & VADODARA
AARRTI ZAVERI	NEW DELHI
MEGHA JOSHI	NEW DELHI
SHIVKUMAR VERMA	CHATTISGARH & VADODARA
RINKU CHAUHAN	UTTAR PRADESH & NEW DELHI
MANJOT KAUR	CHANDIGARH
SIKAN KUMAR PANDA	ORISSA & NEW DELHI
SOMU DESAI	Artist / Secretary TREES / Director GNAP India 2015
GUNJAN TYAGI	Artist / Vice President TREES
PUJA BAHRI	Artist
BHAVIN MISTRY	Artist / Program Coordinator TREES