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A work by Tanmoy Samanta

The city of Udaipur may be known for its clear blue skies, placid lakes and bright havelis, but artist Tanmoy Samanta has given it more muted shades in his works, wherein he paints a reflection of a fort on water. “It is a floating palace. Sitting on a piece of rock, it is floating in statelessness against a backdrop where the earth and the sky are one,” says the Delhi-based artist. In another work, he paints life under water.

Samanta was part of a 10-day camp at The Ananta, a resort in Udaipur. The camp was organised by the Ministry of External Affairs in collaboration with Seher, a Delhi-based organisation , to celebrate the 25th anniversary of ASEAN-India Dialogue Relations. “In India, there is hardly any awareness even about the top artists from Southeast Asia. While everyone is looking to the West, something has rarely happened with Southeast Asian countries despite the shared history and common tradition. There needs to be a ‘look east policy’ in culture,” says Sanjeev Bhargava from Seher.

Working on the theme “Ocean of Opportunities”, the line-up included participants from 10 ASEAN countries: Chan Sophorn (Cambodia), Iqro Ahmad Ibrahim Laili (Indonesia), Kanha Sikounnavong (Lao PDR), Shahrul Hisham B Ahmad Tarmizi (Malaysia), Thet Naing (Myanmar), Naphaphong Kurae (Thailand) and Nguyen Nghia Phuong (Vietnam), apart from Indian artists Binoy Varghese, Farhad Hussain, Kalam Patua, Kiyomi, Laishram Meena Devi, Mahaveer Swami, Samindranath Majumdar and Samanta. “The works created are an outcome of discussions among various artists,” says Bhargava, adding how the artists represent an “eclectic” mix. “We consulted the Indian mission in various countries as well as the ASEAN Secretariat in Jakarta. The Indian artists, too, represent different genres,” says Bhargava, noting that Swami is a sixth generation miniature artist, and Meena Devi comes from Imphal and is influenced by art in the state.

Iqro Ahmad Ibrahim Laili at the camp

Pointing out that the countries in the region share common rituals and culture, Indonesian artist Subkhi says, “It is interesting how there is so much we share, including the epics Mahabharata and the Ramayana.” At the camp, he has painted expressionist acrylics that depict Java culture. Like him, this is also the first time in India for Malaysian artist Tarmizi. In his works, the 32-year-old has borrowed from “old literature and manuscripts of Malaysia and India.”

Kalam Patua notes how friendships made during the camp will last a lifetime. The Rampurhat-based artist has painted a Kalighat scroll that depicts his experience at the camp — from the cultural programmes in the evenings to the artists working on their easel.