An exhibition of Afghan artist Sohaila Khalili expressing human destruction and the beauty of nature.

Established in August 2000, the Visual Arts Gallery is now 20 months old. During this time it has been a hub of uninterrupted activity, which has spanned different genres, and crossed many boundaries. The past months have been distinguished by path breaking, seminal and prestigious events that have proved successful our attempts at the creation and evolution of a critical visual art vocabulary from the centre.

From Cross Talks in Design, Art Appreciation Lectures Series, Sketching classes to Workshops on Digital Photography, the Visual Arts Gallery has succeeded in becoming a a tastemaker and an educator of the 'meaning of art'.

In an endeavor to recognize and appreciate excellence in the field of the creative arts, the India habitat Centre initiated The Habitat Award, for the best Art Show 2001 in the Visual Arts Gallery. This is the advent of the Habitat Art Awards and as we are evolving partnerships with artists and creative minds, our gesture starts with providing an opportunity to use our gallery again. The India Habitat Centre is seeking to build a platform in the world of art, both through interactive sessions with the masters of art and craft as well as through visual displays for our people.

On the basis Creativity, Innovation, Display and New Material the winners were:

Best show - Individual Artist - Gautam Bhatia 'Architecture in the Age of Mc Donalds.'
Curatorial Excellence: Madhu Jain - 'Kitsch Kitsch Hota hai'
Commendations :-
(1) Hemi Bawa "Elements"
(2) Agenes Montanori and Nathalie Troveroy "City of Djinns"

The awards shall be handed out in a ceremony to be held on the 3rd of May 2002. As a part of the same function The Visual Arts Gallery shall also launch the second edition of the Gallery Journal, which serves as a comprehensive archive of the happenings at the gallery. It focuses on the all-pervasive issues of globalization, cosmopolitanism and modernism. With six path-breaking essays by figures prominent in the field of the arts, the Journal serves as a window into the realm and the artistic and the creative.

The certificate for the participants of the Art Appreciation course shall also be given out on the same occasion.

In collaboration with the National Institute of Design, Celebrated personages from the field of Design hold forth on the various issues and aspects of design.

Lets be Creative

An interesting and involving workshop conducted by Textile Designer Gopika Nath explores the possibilities of art and craft allowing the participants to develop their creativity and skills. 'Lets be creative', a four-week craft workshop for 8 - 14 yrs. Every Wednesday and Friday starting from the 8th of May 2002. The cost of the course shall be Rs. 1000.