Have been to visit some exhibitions in Delhi, went to see work by a painter called Semma Kohli at the Habitat centre here in Delhi as well as an exhibition at the British Council, the exhibition was created by artists selected for a three month international residency programme, the initiative is called The HAT project (Here And There) and is aimed at designer/makers.
I am hoping to set up some more contacts with artists here in Delhi in the coming week as well as visit some artist studios, I also plan to do some more research in the three museums on site, the Museum of Indian Textiles, Museum of Indian Terracotta and also the Museum of Everyday Art over the coming weeks.
I went to Agra today , a five hour journey, but well worth it and must do for first time visitors to Delhi. I went to visit some of the famous Moghul monuments, saw the Taj Mahal for the first time, stunning. Also visited Fatehpur Sikri, 25 miles west of Agra. Took lots of photos certainly not going to be short of inspiration.
Well finally here and online!
Arrived in Delhi very early Monday morning! Flight was good and the transition to the Sanskriti Kendra relatively smooth from Delhi airport, only a 30 min journey.
Slowly getting to grips with the workings of the Kendra. Temperature at this time of year is pretty hot, from April it can get up into the 40 + by midday!
Spent the first week sorting out various practical things such as showers, internet connections, fans and bottled water. Power seems to be a constant challenge, electricity cuts out at least five times a day! And whilst the centre does have internet connection it manages to be workable for only very short periods of time. So doing a blog might become an interesting challenge here!
Other International residents have been really helpful in getting me started. They are a mixed bunch of visual artists and writers across a number of disciplines and from a number of countries including the States, Japan, England, Oman and Australia. Artists have been funded through various means, from private sources to funding through Unesco, Fulbright and Arts Council.
I have a studio/living space, there are eight individual studio/workspaces designated for artists and writers as well as three museums on site, a ceramic studio and a library and additional work and communal living spaces for bigger groups.
Sanskriti is set in some beautiful grounds, it really gives the place a serene and tranquil quality, an ideal place to reflect on my practise and research new ideas.
