Gallery Sanskriti's Concept for Art Against Terrorism

ART AGAINST TERRORISM

We at Gallery Sanskriti know that the topic of art in a time of terrorism is not an easy one. However, we believe it is imperative that difficult issues are discussed in spite of the public's general unease. Therefore, Gallery Sanskriti is gratified to be a participant of Art Against Terrorism. Our aim is to display a diversity of ideas so that a plurality of voices can be heard. The term "terrorism" extends beyond words, and this exhibition will show the power of visual language to express identity crisis, pain, and a response to anger and conflict.

Art can appear insignificant in a time of chaos and terror. But the world has always been chaotic and terrifying. Art has been around for a very long time and it has gone through good times and bad. And history has proven that art has never been insignificant. During times of calamity art has played the most important role: art raised awareness. There has been from Tchaikovsky's Pathetique to Picasso's Guernica to Maya Lin's Vietnam Memorial. Artists have always found ways to combat grave catastrophes with grave beauty and insight that have stimulated the world to bring rightful conclusions to events of sorrow. It is a way of combat that is not malicious, but one that suppresses our desires for vengeance with humanity. By all of us gathering together at galleries partaking in Art Against Terrorism, by lighting up the walls and artworks, we are in that peculiar space we go to when we want to experience art. And this space remains the same as it always was: rich, meaningful, rewarding, and moving. It is a place we always return to because it offers us visions that we have never seen before and teaches us things we have never thought about before. Art does not suddenly take new importance just because of its content, but because art draws people together as a community during a time when our nation's sense of community has been attacked. Gallery Sanskriti desires to offer a sense of community once more by inviting all to witness the passionate works of art by some of India's leading artists. Through camaraderie and ruminations over compelling works, we can all find ways to defend against the devastating effects of terrorism.