Varanasi: Taking the artistic heritage of Banaras to an international audience, a four-member delegation from the Faculty of Visual Arts, Banaras Hindu University (BHU), is on an art and study tour of Italy from November 11 to 19 to showcase India’s artistic traditions, visual culture, crafts and contemporary design practices on a global platform.The delegation will visit Rome, Florence and Venice, engaging with leading European art institutions through lectures, demonstrations, exhibitions and academic interactions. The tour aims to strengthen cultural exchange and explore opportunities for future collaborations in art and design education.The delegation includes Prof. Jasminder Kaur, Dean, Faculty of Visual Arts, and Head, Department of Painting and Textile Design Section; Prof. Manish Arora, Professor and Head, Department of Applied Arts; Mahesh Singh, Associate Professor, Department of Painting (Printmaking); and Gyanendra Kumar Kanaujia, Assistant Professor, Department of Applied Arts.A key highlight of the visit will be a special academic lecture and interactive session at Ca’ Foscari University of Venice on November 16.Titled “Banaras: A Living Visual Tradition”, the session will focus on the enduring influence of Varanasi on Indian art, textiles, crafts, painting and contemporary design. It will be held at Aula A, Ca’ Cappello, Ca’ Foscari University, and hosted by Prof. Antonio Rigopoulos.The presentation will explore how the historical, cultural and spiritual landscape of Banaras continues to inspire artistic practices. It will highlight the city’s ghats, traditional miniature painting, Banarasi textiles, crafts, drawing, printmaking and graphic design, while examining the relationship between cultural identity and evolving creative expression.The programme will also include a presentation on the academic and creative work of the Faculty of Visual Arts, a showcase of original artworks by the visiting faculty members and an interaction with students and faculty of Ca’ Foscari University.Another major engagement is scheduled at the Accademia di Belle Arti di Venezia, the Academy of Fine Arts of Venice, on November 16. Titled “Hands from Banaras”, the programme will feature live demonstrations, artistic presentations and a display of original artworks.Prof. Jasminder Kaur will demonstrate techniques of traditional Indian miniature painting. Prof. Manish Arora will present drawing and minimalist painting, focusing on line, form, composition and visual reduction. Mahesh Singh will demonstrate printmaking techniques, while Gyanendra Kumar Kanaujia will explore painting from a graphic design perspective.The programme will also feature an exhibition-style display of around 30 to 40 original artworks by the four participating artists.An academic discussion with Prof. Diana Ferrara from the Engraving Department and Prof. Miriam Pertegato from the Painting Department of the Accademia is also planned. The discussion will focus on artistic techniques, traditional and contemporary practices, art education and possibilities for future academic and creative exchange.The Italy tour is conceived as an academic and artistic initiative connecting cultural heritage, contemporary creative practices and global perspectives in art and design education.The delegation’s visits to Rome, Florence and Venice will provide opportunities to study European art, architecture, museums, public art, historical institutions and contemporary creative environments.The visit to Venice will also provide an opportunity to engage with the international contemporary art environment associated with the Venice Biennale, one of the world’s leading platforms for contemporary art and cultural dialogue.Through the tour, the BHU delegation aims to explore how local artistic traditions can remain relevant in a changing global creative landscape while preserving their cultural identity and historical depth.The initiative is expected to pave the way for future international academic partnerships, joint workshops, faculty and student exchange programmes, collaborative exhibitions and interdisciplinary research.
Discover more from updatview
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
