‘It is a pressing order of the day that Indian art forms need to be sustained in their pure and pristine forms’ 

With the objective to preserve India’s rich art and culture as well as honour the creative and vibrant galaxy of artwork, Apeejay Education is celebrating ‘Apeejay Stya Art Festival’ at the Lalit Kala Akademi in New Delhi.

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, this unique exhibition showcases magnificent artworks, ranging from paintings, sculptures, tapestries, terra cottas, furniture, to digital art and photography. 

The art exhibition was inaugurated by the Honourable 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.

The inauguration ceremony was also graced by Prof. Raj S Dhankar, Vice Chancellor, ASU, Dr Sucharita, Director, Apeejay Education Society, Jalandhar, Dr. V.S. Garg, Education Advisor at Apeejay Education, Mr N. N. Nayyar, Senior Education Officer, Prof. Ashok Ogra, Founder Director and Advisor of AIMC along with the Principals, Deans, and Directors of Apeejay schools and higher education institutes including Dr. Vimala Veeraraghavan, Dean Academics and Emeritus Professor at Apeejay Stya University, Ms Reetu Betala, Founder Director, Apeejay Institute of Design, Dr. Neerja Dhingra, Principal, Apeejay College of Fine Arts, Professor Vivek Sabherwal, Director, Apeejay Institute of Technology School of Architecture and Planning, Prof. Dibyendu Tripathi, Faculty at School of Design and Visual Arts, Prof Sajal Mukherjee, Director, Apeejay Institute of Mass Communication, Dr. Alka Munjal, Director of Apeejay School of Management.

The much-awaited celebration commenced on an auspicious note with the lighting of the ceremonial lamp. Following which Honourable Mrs Sushma Paul Berlia and Mr. Rishi Vashist unveiled the ‘Apeejay Stya Art Festival Catalogue’, which illustrates a creative and wide-range of artwork created by the students and faculty members of three above-mentioned Apeejay institutes.

Welcoming the distinguished gathering on this momentous occasion, Dr Sucharita said , “It’s a proud privilege that we have amongst us most esteemed Madam Mrs Sushma Paul Berlia, who has graciously inaugurated the Apeejay Stya Art Festival. Madam Chancellor is carrying forward the illustrious legacy of her father, our Founder-Chairman Dr Stya Paul ji , who laid the foundation of Apeejay Education with a vision and mission to promote world-class quality education integrated with art education. Apeejay Education has always been committed to the objective of promoting and preserving arts and culture with the most befitting outcome. The present exhibition is also an endeavour in this direction.”   

Speaking on this momentous occasion, Honourable Mrs Sushma Paul Berlia, Co-Promoter & President, Apeejay Stya and Svran Group, “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 a proper training, knowledge and guidance of arts is integrated with the education process, the outcome is indeed fruitful. It is a pressing  order of the day that India art forms need to be sustained in their pure and pristine forums. 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.”

She further added, “There are few institutions in the country who are really involved in the promotion and education related to arts and culture. The time has come where you cannot have narrow divisions between different domains of learning. Today, just  the field in which you intend to specialise. Fortunately, at Apeejay we look to follow a multidisciplinary approach, where there is visual arts, performing arts, management and so on.” 

She also emphaised that everyone should 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. The greatest of civilisation has been marked by the art within them. And so, we are, even in our schools, integrating art education as part of the curriculum and not just as extre-curricular activity so that everyone can find an expression right from their childhood onwards.”

Following this, Mr. Rishi Vashist, Director, Centre for Cultural Resources and Training (CCRT), New Delhi addressed the gathering and said, “It is indeed a pleasure to be here and I would like to thank the Apeejay Education Society for inviting me to see this fantastic work of our upcoming, budding artists. For the past 32 years, I have been working with different artists. When I was listening to the vision and mission of Apeejay Education Society, I could relate, it is the same as CCRT.

During the occasion, five students from Apeejay institute were felicitated with certificates. The five students were Parmeshwar Raju for Painting, Keoli Mukherji for Painting, Akshita Agarwal for Print making, Tarranum Gupta for Sculpture and Riya Maggo for Photography.

Keoli Mukherji, a PhD scholar at Apeejay Stya University said, “The art festival has very unique works of students of the university. What is striking is, it show professional work in various medium. These arts are done using intricate methods. You will see such a variety of artwork. ”

Concluding the ceremony, Prof. Sanyaj Ahirwal, Dean, School of Journalism and Mass Communication, Apeejay Stya University delivered the Vote of Thanks. He conveyed gratitude to the guests and faculty members for their presence. 

The Exhibition will remain open till December 22, 2022 at Gallery No. 7. Allow yourself to be transported to the soothing and ennobling land of creativity at Apeejay Stya Art Festival.