New Delhi (India), 16 September : The Indian Council of Cultural Relations (ICCR) and the Embassy of Portugal, New Delhi has organized an art exhibition of paintings featuring works of the renowned Portuguese artist, Pedro Vaz – “Mani Stone” at ICCR- Art Gallery.
The exhibition was inaugurated on Friday, by the Minister of State for External Affairs and Culture, Ms. Meenakashi Lekhi, in the presence of various other artists and diplomats.
The art exhibition is inspired by his expedition – Zanskar trek from Padum to Lamayuru in Ladakh, which aims to showcase the works of the artist.
Speaking on the occasion, Smt. Meenakashi Lekhi stated that cultural exchanges and appreciation of each other through art and craft, helps in familiarization with the way of life and promotes good relations among countries. Appreciating Mr. Pedro Vaz, she said that he is here on a very momentous occasion as India is celebrating Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav. And his work is certainly a combination of spirituality and nature.
Ambassador of Portugal in Delhi, H.E Carlos Pereira Marques said, “the artist’s delicate work reflects the pristine beauty of nature.
“Pedro’s also showcased his travels through his painting of unique locations on the planet, where it submerges in the experience of being in direct contact with the emotions and impressions invoked by those journeys,” Ambassador Carlos added.
Pedro Vaz´s artistic practice, mostly resulting in painting and video-installations, is based on research about landscape. He was an Artist in Residency Programme at Lalit Kala Akademi, from August 24 – September 16, 2022. His art works generally focuses on nature and landscape. His presentation style in the exhibition involves making the use of painting, video and installations to project the concept. Mr. Pedro Vaz has been working on several projects with 111 Gallery in Lisbon and Kubikgallery in Porto in Portugal. He is also involved with various international projects in Spain, Brazil and Mexico.
Speaking about his work, artist Pedro Vaz said, “he develops projects in which he tries to keep the awareness that landscape, as represented in art, is but a construction dependent on humankind’s perception of itself as separated from nature.”
For his research, “the contact to real place is fundamental and therefore he makes use of journeys and solitary expeditions, in an approach he defines as lived landscape, he added.
In a reply to a question about his experience in Ladakh, Pedra Vaz said, “Seven days of hiking, nearly 100 km between 3500m and 5000m elevation.
A mountain desert, rough landscapes, water, clay and stones. The strong sun, the stone path, and the altitude, were 3 elements of a yet to be experienced hardness.”
He further added that this project was only possible due to the support of Tourism Ladakh, Cam Institues Institute and Portuguese Embassy to whom I extend my sincere thanks.
Pedro Vaz is most frequently exhibited in Portugal, but also had exhibitions in Brazil, Spain and elsewhere. Vaz has at least over 35 solo shows and about 50 group shows over the last 17 years.
The “Mani Stone” exhibition will be open for public till September 30 at ICCR- Art Gallery in Delhi.
-Dr. M Shahid Siddiqui(Ph.D)
He (Journalist) can be reached at ; [email protected] or Follow via Twitter @shahidsiddiqui
