Apeejay Stya Art Festival concludes with a hearty mix of art, culture, and history 

The week-long ‘Apeejay Stya Art Festival’ by Apeejay Education, held at the Lalit Kala Akademi in New Delhi, came to a close on Thursday drawing a wide audience. This Art Festival was a joint venture by three prominent Institutions under the aegis of Apeejay Education viz. Apeejay Stya University, Gurugram; Apeejay College of Fine Arts, Jalandhar and Apeejay Institute of Design, New Delhi. 

The objective behind organising this unique art festival was to preserve India’s rich art and culture as well as honour the creative and vibrant galaxy of artwork. Apeejay Stya Art Festival showcased the magnificent artworks of students and faculty members from the above-mentioned three institutions.  Ranging from paintings, sculptures, tapestries, terra cottas, furniture, to digital art and photography, these artworks were put up for display. 

The Art Festival was inaugurated by the Mrs Sushma Paul Berlia, Co-Promoter & President, Apeejay Stya and Svran Group, Chairperson, Apeejay Education, Co-Founder & Chancellor, Apeejay Stya University in the presence of the Guest of Honour Mr. Rishi Vashist, Director, Centre for Cultural Resources and Training, New Delhi, Mr. Nishant Berlia, Co-Promoter Apeejay Stya and Svran Group and Pro-Chancellor, Apeejay Stya University, and Mr. Aditya Berlia, Co-Promoter of Apeejay Stya and Svran Group, Co-Founder and Pro-Chancellor, Apeejay Stya University, Mrs Nisha Berlia and other prominent members of the Apeejay management.

During the inauguration ceremony, Mrs Sushma Paul Berlia, Co-Promoter & President, Apeejay Stya and Svran Group, Chairperson, Apeejay Education, Co-Founder & Chancellor, Apeejay Stya University, said, “The very edifice of Apeejay Education was laid more than five decades ago on the pillars of world-class quality-education laced with noble mission and vision of preserving, propagating and promoting Indian art and culture. We believe that when proper training, knowledge and guidance of arts is integrated with the education process, the outcome is indeed fruitful. Apeejay’s foray into the arts and culture has been there for decades since the setting-up of the Apeejay College of Fine Arts, and before that the Rajeshwari Kala Sangam and a testimony not only to Apeejay’s involvement and passion in art and culture and taking it forward, not just by way of education, but also by preserving our art and culture. But the inspiration came from the Founder-Chairman Dr. Stya Paul and Rajeshwari Paul, his wife. She was herself an artist, who was responsible for bringing  art education to the heart of Apeejay’s curriculum. Rajeshwari Kala Sangam, which in fact became a temple of arts, and subsequently with Apeejay College of Fine Arts, which became an oasis of culture, art and education offering multidisciplinary programmes.” 

“Apeejay Education since its inception has worked in this direction and reaffirms its mission by providing ample opportunities and suitable exposure to the younger generations to know their cultural heritage and also showcase their creative talent to the outside world through such an apex art establishment as Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi, Mrs. Berlia emphasised.

She further highlighted that each individual must learn the art in science and the science in art, and then find the connection between the two. “All forms of art are an expression of the divine in mankind. I think all artists know that when they are in that space and when they are performing or they are painting, or the artistic expression they are using, they are really not there anymore. It is something else that emerges from within them and finds expression in that art form. And if we look at it from this point of view, no human being can afford not to be in touch with that within them. The greatest of civilisation has been marked by the art within them.” 

Mrs. Berlia also shared, “Even in our schools, integrating art education as a part of the curriculum and not just as an extracurricular activity, so that everyone can find expression right from their childhood onwards.” 

The Festival came as an opportunity for the artists to unleash their imaginative flights. The rich variety of ideas and media used by them added multi-hued dimensions to the Exhibition, providing an enhanced and enriching experience to the onlookers. Marked with ‘Innovation’ and coupled with ‘Originality of Expressions’, the works on display provided a peep into the variegated messages conveyed by the artists in a subtle yet creative manner endowed with a finesse of a high order.

The jury comprising eminent and distinguished artists selected the best works for display at Lalit Kala Akademi providing a rare opportunity to the upcoming artists from Apeejay Education to reach out to the art enthusiasts through such a prestigious art body as Lalit Kala Akademi. 

Moreso, five students of Apeejay institutions were felicitated with certificates for their great artwork. The five students were Parmeshwar Raju for Painting, Keoli Mukherji for Painting, Akshita Agarwal for Printmaking, Tarranum Gupta for Sculpture designing and Riya Maggo for Photography.

Expressing her joy on this achievement, winner Keoli Mukherji, a PhD scholar at Apeejay Stya University, Gurugram, said, “The art festival has very unique works of students from the university. What is striking is, it shows professional work of artists, who used various mediums to express their artwork. These arts are done using intricate methods. You will see such a vibrant variety of artwork like never before.”

Each art work had its own Muse, its own Inspiring note to silently share with the audience, and also to sensitise them in the delicate process. The intention was to provide a significant learning experience to the art students and visual feast to the art lovers.