STATE TIMES NEWS
JAMMU: The arrival of K.K Gandhi at Rome airport for the International Rome Art Biennial was met with great enthusiasm and warmth from Dr. Anna Peretti, Art Director CIAC, and her team.
Dr. Anna highlighted Gandhi’s international acclaim as an artist known for his plein air paintings, a technique that involves painting in the open air to capture the essence of natural environments.
She praised Gandhi’s ability to skillfully incorporate natural light, color, and moments into his work, making his paintings truly exceptional.
A press conference was organized where Michela Bordoni, Head Councilor of Terni, introduced Gandhi’s artistic journey to the media and eminent artists from Italy.
Prior to his participation in the biennial, Gandhi was taken to famous locations in Terni, including the Marmore Waterfall and Pro Loco Lake, where he impressed the crowd by creating two plein air paintings amidst tourists and event organizers.
The Forest Art Museum of the Waterfall area even honoured Gandhi by adding one of his paintings to their permanent collection.
At Pro Loco Lake, Gandhi’s work received applause from a large crowd, including members of the local artists union, who presented him with a memento.
The valedictory function at CIAC – Centro Internazionale Artisti Contemporanei featured an exhibition of selected artworks, including pieces by two artists from Jammu, Lovesh Sharma and Vikas Dogra.
Although Sharma and Dogra couldn’t attend in person, their works were showcased alongside Gandhi’s.
During the event, the auditorium and gallery were filled to capacity as Gandhi created a live painting on stage in the presence of notable figures such as Dr. Giuseppe Chiovaro, National President of CIAC, Stefano Bandecchi – Mayor of Terni, and Michela Bordoni.
The audience’s reaction was overwhelmingly positive, culminating in a standing ovation. Dr. Chiovaro praised Gandhi’s artistry, declaring him the first Indian artist to make history with live painting in Italy, and presented him with a memento and certificate of merit.