Sanjhi art makes its way to UP varsity syllabus; Met celebrates its employees’ art

A SUMMARY OF THE MOST EXCITING ART NEWS FROM AROUND THE GLOBE

While we focus on Indian art, we can’t obviously function in a vacuum. It’s a small world and everything is connected, especially on the web. So, let’s train our spotlight across the world map to see what’s going on — from art trends to socio-political issues to everything that affects the great aesthetic global consciousness. Or, let’s just travel the world and have some fun!

 

New Met exhibit highlights art works by museum’s employees

Every other year since 1935, the Metropolitan Museum of Art (Met) in New York has been hosting an exhibition dedicated to its own employees’ art. And this year, for the first time ever, the private affair is going public. Till June 19, all visitors are encouraged to visit ‘Art Work: Artists Working at The Met’, free to enter with a regular museum admission. Contributed by over 450 of the 1,700 employees — including librarians, technicians, security guards, volunteers and more — the works are placed in a space adjacent to the institution\’s Ancient Greek sculpture hall. A lot of the folks whose art pieces are highlighted in the exhibit are actual professionals who happen to work at the museum to pay the bills. Expect photos, paintings, sculptures and more dealing with all sorts of subjects. TimeOut tells you more.

 

New permanent art gallery set up in Soho streets and alleys

A collection of little-used streets and alleyways off London\’s Oxford Street — Ramilies Street, Ramilies Place and Hill Place — have been transformed into a new permanent art gallery, dubbed the Soho Photography Quarter. The free display has been created by The Photographers\’ Gallery, which plans to change the works twice a year. The first exhibition, called Being Human Human Being, features art by Indigenous Australian contemporary artist Dr Christian Thompson AO. The pedestrianised space includes a 45m-long (148ft) frieze, banners hanging across streets, projections and soundscapes. Being Human Human Being will run until December. The BBC tells you more.

 

UP’s culture varsity syllabus to include Mathura’s ancient Sanjhi artwork

Last month, India’s PM gifted a piece of Sanjhi art to US President Joe Biden. Inspired, to revive the dying artwork of Mathura, the Vrindavan Research Institute is preparing its syllabus for certificate courses in the curriculum of state cultural university which will incorporate the art form. The institute, which is provided ad-hoc grants by UP and central governments, is in the process of finalising the syllabus for four topics, namely Sanjhi Art, Braj Lok Sangeet, Ras Leela and Braj Bhasha. The curriculum will include both the theoretical and practical aspects of the art, with an aim to develop its interest among youngsters. The ancient artwork uses hand-held stencils cut from paper to create patterns on the floor. The Times of India reports.