“ArtEast is NFI’s initiative to raise pertinent questions through a series of engagements on livelihood, social justice, climate change, communication, history- past and present, issues that have a far reaching impact on everyday lives of people in the region,” NFI Director Monica Banerjee told PTI.
The festival will showcase diverse issues curated through diverse medium of installations, art exhibitions, workshop, cinema, performance, discussions, Adda (conversations), music, Majuli masks, pottery, root bridge of Meghalaya, Mukhabhaona and tea-tasting.
The festival will also highlight partition, livelihood, governance, philanthropy and climate change, communication, history – past and present, issues that have a far reaching impact on everyday lives of people in the region.
“On our 25th year of philanthropic work, NFI takes pride in bringing its understanding of the Northeast region to the consciousness of the public in Delhi,” Banerjee said.
India International Centre, New Delhi is collaborating with NFI and is also the venue for the series of events planned for the festival.
Majuli, the world’s largest river island, would be a focus of the festival and it will begin with a performance by the “Mukhabhaona” artists as a tribute to development activist Sanjoy Ghose who was allegedly kidnapped and killed by ULFA.
“Ghose had initiated pioneering work in saving Majuli but his work was interrupted by unfortunate turn of events. ArtEast will open with a choreographed performance by bhaona artists from Majuli paying a personal tribute to Sanjoy who was their friend and guide,” Banerjee said.
PTI