Korean artist inspired by Gita, Yoga to showcase work at InKo Centre, Chennai

CHENNAI: Korean artist

Kim Mi Sook

will exhibit her works for the

first time

in Chennai next week. For the artist, it’s an intensely personal experience as these works have been inspired by her connection to and experience of India.

‘The Flowers Say Summer: Korean Literary Painting’, which will be on display at The Gallery at

InKo Centre

, will be inaugurated on August 28 at 6:30 pm and will be open for viewing till September 15. All the paintings have the light, ethereal strokes that define Kim Mi-Sook’s work.

Most of these paintings have been strongly inspired by Indian culture. “I came across a Hindu scripture, the Bhagavad Gita, while seeking for answers to questions such as “How can I live a good life?” The sacred words of putting together contradictory ideas offered me a silver lining,” says Sook, adding that she believes the exhibition at InKo Centre is not a coincidence. “I hope to better my works and life with this opportunity. Just as I gained spiritual comfort through yoga, with the help of which I started to improve my physical health, I wish to find a balance between body and soul and things visible and invisible through my paintings.”

She calls herself a literary painter -- - one who is supposed to create works representing the essence of objects by focusing more on spiritual aspects of things and the dignity of the painter rather than the physical appearance of an object. “Initially, I found that I was pursuing only the surface of things that people can see while neglecting things that cannot be seen and, I felt a sense of shame. In other words, painting gave me a chance to reflect on my own life,” she says. CM Amarinder nominates poet

Surjit Patar

to head Punjab Kala Parishad Photo sent by reporter

Shariq Majeed

/TNN LUDHIANA: The chief minister of Punjab Captain Amarinder Singh has nominated noted poet Surjit Patar as the Chairman of the Punjab Kala Parishad and the appointment letter to that effect was handed over personally to the celebrated poet at his residence here today by the tourism and cultural affairs minister Navjot Singh Sidhu. Thanking the Punjab government for this honour, Surjit Patar expressed strong hope that he would initiate a people’s movement which would render a yeoman’s service in propagating Punjabi culture, folk arts and literature worldwide.

Interacting with the mediapersons on the occasion, Sidhu said that Patar is a literary giant of Punjab who has increased the stature of the Punjab Kala Parishad manifold by graciously accepting the chairmanship. Calling Patar a guiding light for the future generations especially the youth, Sidhu said that Patar would take the Punjab Kala Parishad to farthest corners of the state by the dint of his energy and positive approach. He also said that serious endeavours would be made to associate 1 lakh art and culture lovers directly in short time with the activities of the Parishad. He also thanked the chief minister especially for the appointment of Patar.

The minister while divulging the futuristic vision, said that the Punjab government seriously attempts to constitute a ‘Cultural Parliament’ within the next month so as to ensure that constructive deliberations are held to devise strategies for popularizing of Punjabi art and culture. He further said that modern tools of communication such as internet and social media would be used in order to make the Punjabi culture and art penetrate right into the homes of the people who would be vital partners in the movement for popularization of Punjabi art and culture.

The minister while talking about western culture said that the Punjabi people are not anti to any culture instead they are fully capable of taking their cultural values and art forms to every nook and corner of the globe. He also added that under the aegis of the Punjab Kala Parishad, the literature, culture and art of Punjab would occupy a place of pride in comparison to the other cultures and the Punjab the government would render every possible assistance. Disclosing more, he said that as the Punjabi art and culture is very closely interlinked with the school education also, he would meet the Education Minister

Aruna Chaudhary to chalk out modalities for linking school students with this great enterprise.

Accepting his appointment as the Chairman of the Punjab Kala Parishad with utmost humility, Surjit Patar thanked the Punjab Government, Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh and Tourism and Cultural Affairs Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu and assured the lovers of Punjabi art and culture that he would leave no stone unturned to propagate the Punjabi culture as well as literature. He also said that it would be his sincere attempt to organize musical, poetry and singing contests throughout Punjab to connect the people with their great literary, cultural and artistic heritage of the State so as to widen its base.