Kamel Abdul Jalil inaugurates the art exhibition in the presence of Sibi George, Abdul Rasoul Salman and Joice Sibi. – Photos by Yasser Al-Zayyat

By Sajeev K Peter

An 11-day-long art exhibition titled 'Glimpses of Timeless India' by Indian artist Joice Sibi Thampuran was inaugurated at Kuwait Art Association hall on Monday. The exhibition, showcasing India's rich and vibrant cultural heritage, was jointly inaugurated by Kamel Abdul Jalil, Secretary General, National Council for Culture, Arts and Letters (NCCAL), and Sibi George, Indian Ambassador to Kuwait, in the presence of Abdul Rasoul Salman, President of the Kuwait Arts Association and the artist Joice Sibi. Several Kuwaiti and Indian dignitaries, ambassadors, art-lovers and media persons were also present.

Organized by the Kuwait Art Association in cooperation with the Indian Embassy, the exhibition is part of ongoing celebrations marking 60 years of dynamic Kuwait-India relations. The exhibition is open to visitors from 5 pm to 9 pm daily until Sept 30, 2021. A cultural festival is also being held alongside the exhibition.

Kamel Abdul Jalil tours the exhibition hall.

Abdul Jalil, in his address, spoke about the historically close Kuwait-India bilateral ties and the role of culture in driving this relationship forward. Salman emphasized the excellent cooperation between the artists of India and Kuwait and the potential to further strengthen this with frequent exchanges between the two countries.

In his address, the Indian ambassador highlighted the significance of the milestone year 2021, which is witnessing the 60th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic relations between India and Kuwait and the 75th anniversary of the independence of India.

Eloquent art

A selection of 37 paintings by Joice Sibi is on display at the exhibition, reflecting the rich and diverse cultural traditions of India. Executed in painstaking detail, Joice's art is both eloquent and evocative of the diverse tradition of Indian aesthetics.

"I have traveled all across India. What influences me the most is my country's rich and vibrant cultural heritage. As an artist, I also draw inspiration from our continuous civilization, which I see as 'Timeless India'," Joice Sibi, who is the spouse of Indian Ambassador Sibi George, told Kuwait Times prior to the inauguration of the exhibition. Conceptualizing India's timeless art on canvas, Joice seems to add a hidden dimension to each of her paintings.

"I have been painting for 15 years. During this time, I have learned many new art forms through which I can express India's civilization and tradition. Today, painting is part and parcel of my life. Every painting for me is like a newborn child. I nurture it. I live in it. Every painting sends a message to the person viewing it. It should have a story to tell - each painting tells a story. I would call it my 'nostalgism'. It reminds me of my motherland. I paint to express my feelings, my nostalgia and my imagination. This is my story," Joice said.

An avid traveler, Joice finds travelling to be a source of both joy and learning. In her early twenties, Joice travelled almost all over India, discovering the amazing land. According to her, every part of India has something unique to offer an artist. "Every journey one undertakes in that land is one of timeless celebration," she said.

Diplomatic journey

Then began her diplomatic journey that took her to several countries and civilizations. Everywhere she went, she became part of art groups and institutes, from Montgomery College in Maryland to Mahe- Mehr Art Institute in Tehran. "As the spouse of a diplomat, I have had the opportunity to travel and visit many art museums across the world. An artist finds inspiration in the works of other artists.

My extensive study of the greats - Vincent Van Gogh, Paul Cezanne, Paul Gauguin, Claude Monet, Henri Matisse and Pablo Picasso - has guided me through my journey of portraying the splendor of India. These masters offer their experience through different artistic techniques that they have mastered. I have learned from their work and I have attempted to imbibe their techniques. Over the course of the years, I developed a love for both the modern and the abstract," she elaborated.

She has displayed her works at prominent art galleries in Washington, Riyadh, Tehran, Geneva and New Delhi. "Egyptian art has impacted my thinking. The natural paintings in the Valley of Kings in Luxor look fresh even after 3,000 years," she said, recalling her stay in Egypt, the land of Pharaohs, Christian and Islamic Art.

"Iran was a different experience. A journey through Qatar and Saudi Arabia and rest of the Gulf made me understand the lives and values of Indians and the huge resident community who toil day in and day out there. My artistic journey continued through Switzerland, Paris and the Vatican. The Louvre and the many museums of Paris including the little village of Van Gogh continue to inspire me," she said.

Having been exposed to multiple styles of art through her artistic and intellectual journey, Joice's style is both inspired and intuitively original. "As a student of art in the US, I learned a lot of art forms and techniques that have inspired the work that I do. My paintings have adopted the styles of romanticism, realism, impressionism, cubism, symbolism, modernism, postmodernism, et al. The list is endless. I do not want to be put in any particular ism. Now I can add a new school of art specific to me - Nostalgism," she quipped.

Many of her works like, 'Journey - The Village', The Snake Charmer', 'Diversity - The Lady with Bangles' and 'Nostalgia - The Houseboat' speak for themselves, defining the cultural traditions and values of the communities they represent. Talking about her dream projects, she said they include a series on: 'Mother', 'Journey', 'Serenity', 'The Epic', 'Nostalgia', 'Diversity', 'Seasons', etc. "A lot of thought goes into the mind of an artist before it appears on the canvas," she concluded.