The Concept
For one amazing week, the spirit of India resonated in the heart of Beverly Hills
! India Splendor was a glorious celebration of the best of contemporary India, with
a special focus on its achievements in the fields of Entertainment, Enlightenment
and Enterprise !
India Splendor was a showcase for the global impact of India's extraordinary Heritage,
Holistic teachings and Hi-tech contribution to the world. The festival also celebrated
new films and Arts of India with daily screenings of films and Q & A sessions with
producers, directors and stars from the world's largest film industry.
Presented by UCLA Film & Television Archives and MGLOBAL TRUST in association with
Art Wallah and Habiart Foundation, the festival built synergies between the creative
communities of Hollywood and Bollywood by creating a vibrant new forum for exchange
of ideas. The festival opened with a Red Carpet Event and World Premiere of a much-awaited
Bollywood film on August 10, 2007 at the AMPAS theater. The gala finale celebrated
60 years of India's independence.
The Festival Encompassed :
- An Art workshop with Indian Artists spanning three generations, at the UCLA Campus
. The highlight of the workshop was a live presentation by legendary Indian Artist
M.F. Husian during the cocktail reception. The Art works created during the workshop
were displayed at the Royce Hall UCLA.
- A fashion show by Suneet Varma
- Shri Shri Ravi Shankarji deliberated on the Holistic and Heritage aspect of India
- Performances by Shamik Davar, Sonu Nigam, Sadhya, Kabir Bedi etc.
India Splendor marked the beginning of a vibrant new Indo-US relationship between
the world's two largest democracies, two largest film industries and two most culturally
diverse countries.
Four of India’s top artists come together in a landmark moment to create a canvas to commemorate India’s 60th anniversary of Indian Independence at India Splendor
As a finale to an art camp held by Habiart Foundation in association with MCorp Global in the midst of UCLA, School of Theatre Film & Television's Sculpture Park. 4 eminent Indian artists Bose Krishnamachari, C. Jagdish, S Harshavardhana & Shamshad Hussain created artworks in front of the Rodin sculpture called “the walking man”.
The four artists painted a signature canvas together to commemorate India’s 60th anniversary of Indian Independence. Painted in the colors of the Indian flag, each artist brought his own unique point of view to a canvas that symbolized Indian art’s foray in to the global arena.
Says Rekha Modi, Founder Habiart Foundation “This is the glimpse of the versatility of Indian artists & is a pre cursor to a major art show that is on the anvil. It is my vision to encourage and build awareness of Indian art in the global arena.”
Adds Rekha Modi, “Art Workshops acquire a special connotation as they felicitate interaction between the artist groups and the viewers. The interaction generated a unique synergy within the group and cultivates an understanding of creative realm.”
Says Bose Krishnamachari, “It is a different experience to paint in front of a background of such famous sculptures by Rodin and Richard M Serra, and is one that I will always treasure.”
Says C. Jagdish, “It is a great opportunity to be able to showcase Indian art on a global platform and this experience of sculpting and painting in such a beautiful environment is one that I’m glad I came for. I wouldn’t have missed this for anything!
Says Shamshad Hussain, “It is fantastic to have a dialogue with new people. My painting is my language and the way in which I communicate with people and I am delighted to be here.”
Adds S. Harshavardhana, “It takes a lot of effort to be able to break barriers & perceptions and I wholly support Mrs. Modi’s tremendous effort to put Indian art on a global platform.”
Habiart Foundation in association with MCorp Global is the organizer of an Art Workshop as part of India Splendor, celebrating 60 years of Indian Independence at UCLA from 10th the 15th August.