Cultural Ministry Launches PARI Initiative for Upcoming World Heritage Committee Session
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Project PARI seeks to foster dialogue, reflection, and inspiration, enriching the nation’s vibrant cultural landscape. Over 150 visual artists from across India are collaborating to enhance public spaces throughout the national capital in preparation for the upcoming event.
The most vibrant tapestry of artistic heritage and contemporary expression finds a visual display at the very heart of the bustling capital of India today under a project headlined by the Ministry of Culture: Project PARI. One of the most far-reaching and ambitious initiatives, brought to fruition with the Lalit Kala Akademi and National Gallery of Modern Art, in the arena of public art that India has seen in recent times.
Embracing the spirit of “lok kala/lok sanskriti,” Project PARI is a celebration of India’s millennia-old artistic legacy, imbued with modern themes and techniques. It offers an experience that places Delhi, the capital of the country, as a canvas paint, ushering in the 46th session of the World Heritage Committee, having much deeper resonance in the cultural tapestry of Delhi.
Over 150 visual artists from all over India lend multiple perspectives to this transformative venture. A large variety of diverse forms, in both traditional and contemporary styles, similar to the myriad artistic traditions of Rajasthan, Sikkim, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, Telangana, Odisha, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Uttarakhand, Kerala, and Tripura, come alive in the creations of these artists.
From wall paintings and murals to sculptures and installations, the creative tapestry these artists weave is celebratory of India’s cultural diversity. These works pay homage to a myriad of styles, including Phad paintings, Thangka painting, miniature painting, Gond art, Tanjore paintings, Kalamkari, Alpona art, Cheriyal painting, Pichhwai Painting, Lanjia Saura, Pattachitra, Bani Thani Painting, Warli, Pithora Art, Aipan, and Kerala Murals, to name a few.
Moreover, Project PARI’s proposed sculptures are based on a whole set of ideas: homage to nature and inspiration from Natyashastra, the wisdom of Gandhi ji, the pluralistic texture of India’s traditional toys, the spirit of hospitality, Naad, or Primeval Sound, and harmony of life symbolized by Kalpataru, that is, the divine tree.
At the forefront of this, most prominent are a few art elements and sculptures that have drawn inspiration from the marquee World Heritage Sites of the country, like Bimbetka, to the seven natural World Heritage Sites in the country, as India is set to host the 46th World Heritage Committee Meeting.
As a powerful testimony of strength and creativity, women artists under Bharat’s NARI SHAKTI have significantly contributed to the visual storytelling for Project PARI. Evidence of their contribution, in many numbers, shows how inclusive the project will be, aiming to involve citizens of all walks of life for a common celebration of art and culture.
As the project progressed, all citizens and visitors were invited to be part of this cultural renaissance by bringing out the exuberance of Project PARI, to be spread via social media. Using the hashtag #ProjectPARI, members of the public shared their experiences and took selfies with the amazing works of art on display, ultimately becoming part of this life-changing movement toward the growth of culture and oneness.
Project PARI is not an artistic expression alone but represents the enduring power of art to unite communities, provoke conversations, and further ornament the cultural tapestry of a nation. The spectrum of art that this initiative unfolds spells an important moment in the artistic journey of India, redefining public spaces as resplendent galleries to express the diversity and richness of the country’s culture.
