Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Aug 25: The second edition of the Sama-Vaya art retreat, which hosted eight artists and craftspeople from across the country, concluded today in Jammu.
A spokesperson for the event said the retreat was held at Skyview by Empyrean, located in the Sanget-Patnitop region. “It was organized by prominent art curator Anupa Mehta, with the support of author and crafts curator Anu Chowdhury Sorabjee,” he said. He added that the interactive retreat showcased the individual and collaborative artworks of master craftspeople and artists from various regions, including Jammu, Bhil art from Madhya Pradesh, and Basohli miniature art from Jammu.
The spokesperson mentioned that prominent art lovers and collectors from across India and abroad, along with over 80 art students from the Institute of Music and Fine Arts at Jammu University, attended the exhibition. “The event featured works by artists such as Lado Bai (Bhil art), Kritika Joshi (Phad painting), Saroj Shyam (Gond painting), Rachita Dutta, Rachna Badrakia, Neha Lavingia, Suman Gupta, and Sohan Singh Billawaria,” he said.
Providing details, the spokesperson explained that the artists spent four days in residence at Skyview by Empyrean, collaborating, exchanging ideas, and producing works inspired by their surroundings. “They worked individually and in pairs to create impressions of Jammu, the environment, and Skyview by Empyrean. All artworks were displayed at an exhibition held at Skyview by Empyrean on August 25,” he noted.
The spokesperson further highlighted that renowned film and theater personalities, including Rajit Kapur, Shernaz Patel, Anahita Uberoi, and Sohrab Ardeshir, also graced the occasion.
On the occasion, Owais Altaf Syed, Director of Skyview by Empyrean, said, “We are proud to have hosted the second edition of Sama-Vaya, which offered us a glimpse of Jammu through the eyes of these talented artists. Their diverse and insightful perspectives from both urban and indigenous backgrounds enriched the exhibition.”
Expressing her admiration, art curator Anupa Mehta said, “The beauty of Skyview by Empyrean and the stunning inspirations these artists have captured on their canvases left me in awe. It was rewarding to see how they worked individually while also merging their unique worlds and forms of expression for the love of art. The cultural landscape of Jammu, as interpreted by these artists, will remain forever etched in my memory.”