Udarta Kindness: Australia India Cultural Exchange Touring Art Exhibition

Udarta / Kindness Australia India Cultural Exchange was a trans-cultural research project demonstrating the high level of creative engagement between India and Australia. It included contemporary visual art, literature and music. The exhibition was held in New Delhi, Canberra and Melbourne. The project was Co-Curated by RMIT Gallery Director and Chief Curator Suzanne Davies alongside Dr Alka Pande, Curator, Visual Arts Gallery, India Habitat Centre. The outcomes are a lasting public record of bilateral cross-art projects. Australian artists who have a history of engagement with India and Indian artists who have a history of engagement withAustralia were identified. Over 250 artists who had taken part in cultural exchange projects over the past 20 years were then included in an exhibition and publication. Reseach was made by the Curators into the impact of the trans-cultrual experience by artists, writers and musicians. As a thematic starting point the cross cultural idea of 'Kindness' was researched with the notion generating vastly different responses given its variable connotations in different cultrual contexts.The exhibition revealed an intriguing diversity of experiences and understandings that affirmed the range of cultural dialogues between India and Australia. Alongside the exhibition an important publication recording the small-scale images and texts was developed. Two compilation music CDs celebrating musicians who have contributed to the Australia - India cultural exchange were researched and produced. This component was supported by the Nataraj Cultural Centre who provided access to their performance master archive RMIT Gallery was extremely proactive profiling the project to the media with excellent results thereby increasing our international profile. The exhibition was funded by Arts Victoria, Australia-India Council, Australia International Cultural Council and City of Melbourne.