The Bionic Man - Sensing The Extraordinary

Neil Harbisson’s presentation at the TEDxGateway, Mumbai last year is an inspiring tale of possibilities that encompasses passion, creativity and determination. Born with acromatopsia, a condition that caused Harbisson to see the world in black and white and shades of grey, he helped develop a head mounted sensor or eyeborg that picked up colour frequencies and transposed them into sound frequencies. In 2009, the eyeborg was developed into a chip which was implanted into his head and that allowed him to also perceive infrared and ultraviolet colours which are ordinarily outside the range of human perception. It is widely accepted that Harbisson became the world’s first cyborg in 2004 when his passport photograph wearing the eyeborg was officially recognized and accepted.

The bionic implant has allowed Harbisson to pursue his passion and continue a career in contemporary art and music. This article is not limited to Neil Harbisson’s art but also touches upon the incredible transformations that are possible when science and technology are applied to enhance and assist human life experiences and to impart dignity in living.

Art

Harbisson’s early works employ a black and white and grey palette, however his later works, not surprisingly, explore the relationship between colour and sound and our response to colour. His artworks have been exhibited during the 54th Venice Biennale, at London and Barcelona and other cities. He creates sound portraits of people by listening to the colours of faces, a fascinating concept where he listens to the different micro tone chords depending on the colours. His eyeborg picks up the different notes from the different parts of the face which he writes down on a special 360 lined manuscript paper. He has created sound portraits of Prince Charles, Leonardo DiCaprio and Woody Allen amongst others.

Harbisson created a series of paintings ‘City Colours’ by scanning capitals of various countries and representing them through two main hues. He also created a series of paintings titled ‘Colour Scores’ by transforming the first hundred notes of well-known musical pieces into colour.

I feel Harbisson’s art offers a unique perspective on abstract concepts that are precisely translated into paintings - where geometric patterns of colours follow a determinate code and progression. It is fascinating to note that Harbisson perceives the human skin not as black or white but as varying shades of orange, what an astounding discovery that must be such a blow to racists!

Social Relevance

Harbisson’s contribution in the field of cybernetics is also of great humanitarian value as it can be directly applied in medical therapy. His foundation provides an open source platform for development of software to assist people in creating individualized solutions which is a crucial step in empowering the user. The foundation is also working on creating a device that can aid the visually impaired and eliminate the need to use Braille. 
The scope of cybernetics in medicine has tremendous possibilities to aid and to restore vision, limbs and perhaps the most important of all dignity of existence. For those who have impaired faculties, it is not just the trauma of day to day living, but also the stress of having to deal with being ‘different’. A recent episode where an amputee was made to remove her artificial leg at the Mumbai Airport was widely reported in the media, but one cannot even begin to imagine the distress caused to the person in question. Harbisson takes pride in being a cyborg and it helps to reiterate the normalcy in being ‘different’ and his work is critical to sensitizing society to the differently abled.

The future is now

I am a great proponent of technology and a few years ago turned to a speech recognition tool after a minor injury and now use it for all my writing! ‘A Brief History of Time’ and other scientific contributions by Stephen Hawking may not have taken place had there been no technological intervention to assist the wheelchair bound theoretical physicist. Cybernetics has revolutionized life and health of human beings whether it is pacemakers, artificial limbs or bionic implants; it has the capacity to alter lives and sensory experiences and to allow people to pursue their passions and inculcate normalcy in their lives.

What makes an idea great is the intention behind it and an appreciation of its magic that has the power to sustain life or to eradicate it!

Franklin Templeton Investments partnered the TEDxGateway Mumbai in December 2012.
Watch the video here

Metro Art – A Venue For Public Art

As the much awaited Bangalore metro gets ready to be unveiled, there is a sense of anticipation and expectation in the air.  The elevated metro network with its multiple stations has transformed the topography of a major part of the city with the presence of gigantic concrete pillars and tracks.  The metro in Bangalore with its vast network should stand for much more than connectivity and aim to become a symbol of cultural and geographical significance.  After all, a metro station need not be a plain and bare space overlaid with metal and concrete, but can easily be an inspiring and imaginative space brimming with creativity.  A source of pride for the residents and a feast for the eyes for the daily commuters!

The metro stations can provide a wonderful forum for public art and function as a repository of artworks. The days of ill illuminated and uninspiring station are passé and now some of the finest art museums are located and displayed at some of the most innovative metro stations in the world. The Stockholm metro station is considered to be amongst the ‘world's largest and most impressive museums’ which contains sculptures, mosaics, paintings, installations, inscriptions and reliefs from 1950s onwards and done by more than a hundred artists.  In fact, Stockholm's ‘tunnelbana’ is referred to as the world's longest art gallery because works of art have been integrated in almost every station.  Some of the other Metros with significant public art and architecture in the stations are Brussels, Montreal, Stockholm, Athens, Prague and Moscow. 

The Bangalore metro too has the potential to combine art and architecture and create a platform to showcase Indian contemporary art before the world.  As the metro will be used by local citizens as well as tourists it therefore provides the perfect opportunity to create a stunning display which can set a benchmark.  A different design for each station also works well with commuters as each station then has its own identity and unique character.

In terms of artworks, there are immense possibilities, for instance in Paris there are stations which display copies of masterpieces from the Louvre, giant murals and sculptures form part of the artworks at Santiago's metro, while in Athens there are archaeological exhibits at several of the metro stations.  An elevated art installation with flying figures at one of the stations in Brussels has a stunning impact.  In Dubai, the metro stations see a combination of heritage and modern designs which are inspired from elements of nature as well as Islamic influences.

Similarly, the Bangalore metro has the potential to create a world class ambience and stunning interiors by adding artworks in a cohesive and integrated manner which highlights the cultural significance of the region in an international style. Life sized sculptures, folk and tribal art, contemporary paintings, murals and large installations are just a few artworks which can be used innovatively to clearly state that Bangalore is much more than an IT capital: it is also an important arts and culture destination.

The design possibilities are endless and the stations could follow a futuristic, minimalist or a traditional style which becomes a unified entity through its architecture and art.  Each station could adopt an exclusive design style which can then influence the rest of the decor scheme accordingly. It is important here to have a systematic approach to ensure that there is no haphazard display of art and an integrated harmonious look is created. There is enormous talent in the city and the region and one can create a metro with a distinct identity which the city can be proud of.

The writer is an art consultant


(Published in Nov, 2011 in Times of India, Bangalore)

Art Collection at Jaganmohan Palace, Mysore

Sri Jayachamarajendra Art Gallery, Mysore 

Mysore is an important tourist destination for visitors to Karnataka, where most people consider the Mysore Palace, Chamundi Hills and the Brindavan Gardens high on their must see list, but not many visitors know about the Sri Jayachamarajendra Art Gallery.

The Jaganmohan Palace stands a little distance away from the Mysore Palace and it is a treasure house filled with rare art and antiques from the private collection of the Wodeyars of Mysore. The gallery itself is called the Jayachamarajendra Art Gallery which was converted into an art gallery in 1875 and has an amazing collection of paintings, antique furniture, musical instruments, weapons, brass artifacts, porcelain, marble busts, ancient coins and rare photographs. Paintings and sculptures by prominent artists from the late 19th century are also a part of the display.

As you enter, you will see grand old clocks in all sizes, including a French musical calendar clock and a few more with carved statuettes and chariots which are placed close to the entrance. Exquisite birds on silk cloth are part of the Japanese art section, while the Mughal and Rajasthani miniatures form a fascinating collection that depicts delicately rendered figures in the traditional style. Inspired by the epics these are woven around themes such as Radha-Krishna, musical gatherings and also hunting scenes. Next to it are several rare old photographs of the Dassara festival, which reiterate the importance of the grand celebrations associated with the festival. Celebrations have been scaled down now but the tradition continues in Mysore to this day.

The art gallery is comprehensive with several Indian artists and a few Western ones as well. Amongst the Indian artists, to see Raja Ravi Verma’s paintings in the original is a delightful treat. Based on mythology and the Ramayana and Mahabharata, there are large oils such as ‘Swan Messenger’, ‘Lady in Moonlight’ and ‘Harishchandra’ amongst others. Ravi Verma (1848 – 1906) is considered an unquestionable master of portraits and figures, the delicate skin tones, fall of drapes and the level of detailing he captured are part of his paintings’ charm.

There are other works by Raja Rama Verma (Ravi Verma’s brother), Ishwardas, Haldenkar and Subbukrishna. Numerous large panels depicting the Royal family during court sessions, Dassara processions and otherwise have been done by various artists. ‘Glow of Hope’ by Haldenkar is a fascinating painting of a woman holding a lighted lamp where the light from the lamp casts a glow on the woman’s face, which is visible even in absolute darkness. Gagendranath Tagore’s intriguing play of light in his works creates stark yet captivating images.

To enter the Western art gallery and to come across a self-portrait by Rembrandt is a huge surprise and an incredible experience. ‘Crucifixion’ by PP Rubens and exquisite miniatures in oil by L. Gunov are notable in this section. Paintings by Abdur Rahman Chughtai are delicately rendered and influences from the Mughal style are subtle but evident. There is a large collection of paintings done in the traditional Mysore style using the gold leaf to embellish the images. Other paintings include examples from Shantiniketan, Persian and Tibetan art.

For music connoisseurs, an excellent assortment of musical instruments is preserved in the gallery and the royal family, it is believed, used some of them.

One hopes that this wonderful collection of art and antiques, considered one of the best in South India, will be preserved well for future generations.


Also read,
Visit to NGMA, Bangalore
Art Collection at Karnataka Chitrakala Parishath, Bangalore

Updated version of an article published in Times of India in 2006.

Guest Post: Photohappiness

Introducing a new series by guest writers with the first post by Bangalore based photo artist Shibu Arakkal

Photohappiness

Photography and its meaning in the midst of a million clicks

The word 'happiness' to me is so synonymous with taking pictures. There is something so exhilaratingly profound about having frozen a slice of time on film or as in these days, digitally. The mere seduction of a thoughtfully crafted photograph emerging out of nowhere in the red of a darkroom is much the reason for my nineteen year love affair.

I have always maintained that we're all so naturally drawn to photography, maybe because it is the most realistic of all two-dimensional visual art forms or maybe like painting or sculpture, there isn't anything particularly intimidating about it. So whether it is that black and white studio portrait of our grand parents' wedding or that iconic album cover of a favourite music CD, certain pictures have forever found a place in our very being, maybe without much realization. It also goes to show how the emotion is so intrinsic to any photograph as its very soul.

It is also why I am rarely surprised when someone decides to quit an MBA degree or their jobs in software to wanting to take pictures for a living.

I think that we also make too much of being able to articulate our emotions for art in general and in critiquing it. Just that we instantly relate to or even in retrospect feel something very strongly for an art work or even don't realize that an art work has imprinted itself into our subconscious means much more than being able to articulate our emotion for it. As such and particularly in photography there are images that we never seem to forget, irrespective of whether there was an appreciable element of technical wizardry or a very simply execution of a great idea.

As there are photographs that have defined times and moments in this world, there are those single shots that can make one's whole life worthwhile. William Albert Allard's portrait of this crying Peruvian boy who lost his sheep to a hit and run taxi moved so many people around the world to chip in and buy the boy a whole new herd. That single portrait was responsible for a lot of lost sleep for a whole lot of people other than everyone who saw it questioning what was right in this world.

The great American landscapes photographed by Ansel Adams stand tall as a monument to high art and have over the years helped to bring great attention to natural conservation in the country. Interestingly and a less known fact, Adams destroyed a lot of his negatives towards the end of his life as he felt that he didn't have enough time to print them himself. It is a certain happiness that you have gained from what you do that dictates what shall eventually happen of the pictures you have taken.

Life's stories in all its variations are almost normal when compared to the ones photographers tell you. It is sometimes an absolute compulsion to take that one elusive picture that has got someone into heaps of trouble or simply a desire to create something that shall live on, that has seen one scale the very heights of photographic yearning.

In such a world seemed to live Bill Brandt, whose artistic interpretation of early twentieth century middle class English life and portraits of great English names in its soul screamed and cried and at the same time glorified all that was so in essence 'English'.

Like the musicians and poets of a time, the photographers are the ones who remind us what things looked like, their interpretation of it, of course.

It is not often in a world of so many do's and don't's, that we experience true liberation of the mind and the soul. Taking a simple, conscious and intentful photograph does that so very often that, pardon the pun but it seems to instantly put things into perspective.

Shibu Arakkal is a Bangalore based photo artist whose work has been shown at the Royal College of Art in London, the Arad International Biennale in Romania, and the National Exhibition of Art in India over a nineteen year career with his works in private and institutional collections in India and abroad.

For more on the artist go to shibuarakkal.com
To follow the artist go to facebook.com/ShibuArakkalPhotoArt

Also read on Indian Art,

Fine Art Photography
Photography Shows in Bangalore
Photography as a Medium of Expression

Guide: Exhibiting Your Artworks

Preparing to exhibit your artworks

There are a number of self-taught and aspiring artists and photographers who tend to build a body of work over time.  One of the most common requests I get on social media networks is to look at images and give feedback to the artist if the artworks are ready to be publicly exhibited, if yes, how does one go about it and which galleries they could approach.

Critiquing and curating artworks for public display is a time consuming process and cannot be undertaken either briefly or instantly over social networks. In all probability the responses you get in such cases is unlikely to help you put together an art show.

Here are a few pointers to help you initiate the process:

• If you are unsure of the quality of your work, it would be advisable to get professional opinion on it. Look for an art consultant, curator or even a gallerist who can critique the works and also guide you towards having an art exhibition.
• Alternately, if you feel comfortable and are able to be objective about your art you can choose the best works from your entire collection. Please ensure you have a common theme or thread running through them. Make sure you have a sufficient number of artworks. Also, be clear that you are ready to show your art in public and to face critique.
• It would also be a good idea to visit as many art exhibitions as possible, preferably curated art shows hosted at art galleries in your city.  What this will do is give you a perspective of where your art stands vis a vis other artists in terms of technical skills, composition, use of colours, theme and so on.  It will also give you an overall sense about displaying art. 
• If you do have a substantial body of work which is exhibit friendly, you could directly approach local art galleries. It would be advisable to make a portfolio of your works to show them. Sending soft copies of portfolios over e-mails may work, but these days one receives so many mails and images that despite good intentions, once it slides to the bottom of the mail display page, it is easy to forget about it.
• Approach galleries that specialize in your art domain (painting, photograph, sculpture, etc) or those who showcase diverse art forms.

Related posts,

How to organize an art exhibition

Art Exhibition – Behind the scenes

With this series of mini guide, Exhibiting Your Artworks, other related topics will be covered in coming posts. 

Artfelt Musings

I started this blog Indian Art in 2006 in an effort to reach out to more people. Having been a columnist for Financial Times and Bangalore Mirror, and a contributor to Times of India and many art magazines it seemed logical to republish some of my articles on this blog and to link to those available online. It has been an exhilarating journey since then - with its share of ups and downs.

Most of the time, I have been fairly regular with updating this blog, but there have been phases when postings have been infrequent, especially so in the last year and half. A prior shoulder injury demanded more attention and forced me to take time off not only from this blog but also other work. Incidentally, just to let you know, I have been using a speech recognition software since 2008 for all my writing and it has worked well for me except in instances where short emails are required or when performing actions which require mouse clicks. The reason I’m mentioning this is that it can be a good option for people with any kind of repetitive stress injury.

Well, as clichéd as it sounds, last year has given me time to introspect and to look for alternative, natural modalities of healing. If nothing else, it has definitely provided me with several tools that help in dealing with chronic pain and associated stress. And, that may well become the topic of another blog!

Coming back to Indian Art, I have been fortunate to find support and encouragement from my readers for so many years. Thank you so much! You have no idea how much I appreciate it.

Recently, I decided to redesign and restructure the information on this blog and have been working towards it. You can see a few changes already – the new template and widgets/buttons, and there are some more in the offing. I have retained the title Indian Art, but as you know international artists and exhibitions have been featured in the past and will continue to do so. In fact, I plan to consciously include international news, artists’ profiles, interviews and perhaps even reviews if the logistics can be worked out.

While reorganizing the information, many posts, for instance, about upcoming events, which I believe are redundant now have been deleted and the site has been minimized in size and content. Most of the articles are being extensively categorized and will appear under specific sections. The objective is to make the information easily available and make the entire navigation process smooth and fluid. I will also be adding newer sections which will expand on ‘How to’ on building an art collection, organizing an art exhibition, writing an artist statement and many other topics on investment, décor and so on. Guest blogging will also be introduced shortly and I will be putting up the submission guidelines soon.

One of the challenges in the past has been linked to allocating resources for this blog, and I hope to overcome that by making this site self-reliant. To generate revenue, an ‘Advertiser’ section has been included in the top menu bar offering options for sponsored posts, profiles and reviews. There have been a couple of sponsors already and if you would like to avail of this opportunity please get in touch.

Indian Art was one of the first blogs started by an individual and which covered a range of contemporary themes related to art, and the only reason why we are still here is because of you. During this period of transition, I would love to have feedback and inputs from you and I hope you will ‘share’, ‘like’, ‘tweet’ and ‘subscribe’ to Indian Art. I am relying on you completely to spread the word, so please go ahead and use the power of social media marketing to the hilt! And, don’t forget to drop me a line; I’m looking forward to hearing from you.

Related posts,

Musings: Art, Books and Summer

Solo Exhibition of Sculptures by Reghu G

Bangalore based sculptor, Reghu's solo exhibition of sculptures is upcoming at Gallery Sumukha. Details are posted below.

You may also want to read 'Ceramic Art (Sculptures by Reghu)', which I wrote in 2008:

I first came across Reghu’s sculptures about four years ago. Tiny ceramic figures that were based on groupings of men, women and children in animated postures caught my eye. Simple, earthy and quite minimal...read more

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Ananya Drishya presents Suresh Kumar G

Ananya Drushya, an initiative by eminent artist SG Vasudev is a Bangalore based organization - a cultural trust that promotes music, literature and art that aims to create awareness about visual arts in schools and other sections of the society. Readers will remember that a few years ago, the visual chapter of Ananya had started with a group show, where seventy artists from the city had contributed their paintings. It was immensely successful and helped to raise funds for their activities.

According to Vasudev, “Ananya Drishya aims at a three-pronged approach. We conduct regular lecture and discussion sessions on art and art appreciation programmes. Then we have outreach programmes for school children to develop awareness in them about visual art and culture. Simultaneously, we are developing archives of Karnataka art from pre-Independence period onwards. So, while discussion sessions connect with the present, archives and working with children bridge the past and the future.” (quote from Bangalore Mirror, October 09, 2011)

Since then Ananya has been organizing monthly talks and presentations by artists, which have been very well appreciated and well attended. Last year, I moderated a presentation and interactive session with artists Murali Cheeroth and Ravikumar Kashi. Continuing this series, next is artist Suresh Kumar G making a presentation on Jun 11, 2013.

 Do drop in at Venkatappa Art Gallery if you are in the vicinity.

Balraj Khanna- A Journey of His Own

Acclaimed Indian born artist Balraj Khanna’s first online curated solo show kicks off in June

Balraj Khanna- A Journey of His Own

ajourneyofhisown

6-16 June 2013

Balraj Khanna was born in the Punjab and came to England in the 1960s to study English. Instead, he took to art – eventually becoming ‘one of the best middle generation painters we have” (Mel Gooding).

Khanna is an individualistic artist whose work encapsulates his own aesthetic approach and personalised vision of life. He has developed a unique brand of abstraction inspired by nature, spirituality and concepts of creation.

His paintings have been described as “buoyant, engaging, festive and uplifting”.

Lucie Marchelot, director of The Indian Art Centre, says: “We wanted to create an innovative online exhibition featuring high quality works that could be visited by collectors from around the world. For those not prepared to sacrifice the experience of seeing the work in the flesh we arrange private views of the collection at the artist’s studio in London”.

Two rooms showcasing 22 works have been specially designed to provide a strong and realistic effect of how paintings could be arranged in traditional and modern interiors.

The use of cutting-edge technology allows collectors to have a unique 3D experience in the comfort of their homes. As they scroll through a dazzling panoramic display, they can click on each artwork and a window will pop up on the screen with their descriptions, prices and zoomed photographs allowing a closer inspection.

The virtual gallery will open its virtual doors on the 6th of June and the pop up online event will run until the 16th of June 2013 (aligned with the Modern and Contemporary Indian Art auctions organised by the leading auction houses in London).

Since Balraj Khanna was once described by Bryan Robertson as "one of the most distinguished painters living in England," the high level of interest in his online pop-up art exhibition is not surprising.

Interested parties are invited to register on ajourneyofhisown



Sponsored post.

Anjolie Ela Menon | London | Preview: 6 June, 2013

Art in Interiors

Art Buzz: Mumbai

Request for Proposals: IFA’s Arts Research and Documentation Programme

India Foundation for the Arts is happy to announce that we are inviting proposals under our Arts Research and Documentation programme for the year 2013-2014. The last date for the receipt of draft proposals is June 15, 2013and the last date for the receipt of final proposals is July 15, 2013. So mark your calendars and start writing!

For details on the grant application procedure please read the complete Request for Proposals below. You can alsoDOWNLOAD a pdf version of the file in English. The document will soon be available in other languages on the IFA website.

We hope you share this email on your organisational website, blog, Facebook and Twitter page and with your friends because we want as many people as possible to hear about this opportunity. Please help spread the word!

Last but not the least, stay in touch; call us, write to us and ask us a million questions. We are here to help you develop your proposal.

Looking forward to hearing your ideas!

Warm regards,
The IFA Team

INDIA FOUNDATION FOR THE ARTS

Request for Proposals: Arts Research and Documentation

Are you a researcher or an artist interested in: 1) Studying the changing practices in the contemporary arts? Or 2) Exploring how artistic practices are constructed and come to be regarded as ‘tradition’?

ScopeThis grant programme supports scholars/researchers and artists to undertake research and documentation projects falling under either one of the two following themes:

1) Research and documentation that seeks to study new developments in contemporary arts practice.
As a researcher or artist, you may want to study new developments or changing practices in the contemporary arts. For instance, you may want to study the intersection of technology-television and the Internet-and contemporary art. You may want to investigate site-specific work that engages with local communities or the natural environment. Or you may want to examine democratic art practices that blur the boundary between the artist and the audience.

You might want to use existing methods of research and/or create new conceptual or technical tools that depart from existing disciplinary methodologies to illuminate and contribute to the study of contemporary arts practices.

2) Research and documentation that critically examines how artistic traditions are constructed or reinvented.The word ‘tradition’ comes from the Latin word traditionem, which literally means ‘handing over’. What is handed over from one generation to the next may be knowledge, beliefs, legends, practices and so on. Tradition can also refer to long established ways of thinking or acting within a continuing pattern of cultural beliefs or practices.

However, because tradition provides a powerful source of endorsement and sanction for certain practices, beliefs, values and norms of behaviour, it is often invented or reconstructed, as against simply inherited. Many practices which are seen as tradition are in fact quite recent inventions, often deliberately constructed for a variety of reasons, such as to legitimize certain actions, power equations or social hierarchies, to foster group cohesion and cement collective identities, or to support political ideologies, agendas or interests. Artistic traditions are also deliberately re-described and reinvented to create new audiences and markets for them.

Support under this theme is available for researchers or artists who are interested in studying why or how traditions are constructed. For example, you may be interested in examining the new meanings, values and symbols that are created when a tradition is invented or reinvented or what might be excluded, lost, concealed or suppressed in the process. You may be interested in how this phenomenon alters the relationship between the artist, the art form/practice and the context of its production and reception. Or you may be interested in looking at the influences and ideologies that underlie or determine such constructions of tradition.

ApplicationIFA staff would be glad to answer your questions regarding this grant programme. You are welcome to approach us to discuss your ideas or send us a draft proposal for our suggestions and comments no later than June 15^th, 2013.

Your final applications should be in hard copy and reach us on or before 15^thJuly, 2013. You can expect grant awards to be announced by October 2013.

You may choose to write your proposal in any Indian language including English.

Your project may have a minimum duration of twelve months and a maximum duration of eighteen months.

You can request for support up to Rs 3 lakh. If you are a filmmaker, you can request for support up to Rs 5 lakh.

You may budget for an honorarium of Rs 12,000/- per month subject to a maximum limit of Rs 1,44,000 for theentire duration of the grant. Please note that the total grant amount is inclusive of the honorarium.

To apply, please send us a proposal describing:

• The specific artistic tradition(s) OR contemporary art practice that you seek to research and/or document.
• The research questions central to your project.
• The research methodology that you seek to follow and/or new methodologies that you wish to pursue in order to tackle your subject of inquiry.
• The anticipated duration of your project, as well as a work plan.
• The proposed outcomes of your project.

The proposal will be considered incomplete if you do not include the following:

1. Supporting material, if any, which gives us a sense of your work.
2. Your bio-data.
3. A detailed budget breakdown that explains how funds will be used. Please also mention funds anticipated from other sources, if any.
4. Your address, telephone/fax numbers, and e-mail address.
5. If you are applying on behalf of an institution, please include background information on the organisation as well as the memorandum of association/trust deed, annual reports, and audited statements of accounts for the past three years.

General Information1) Our funds will cover only project-related personnel costs, activities and travel, and can provide for modest equipment and materials, if necessary. Please ensure that each budget category pertains to a specific item of project-related expenditure.

2) If you are an individual, please budget for an accountant.

3) Please do not budget for institutional overheads, building costs and infrastructural development.

4) Please do not make your identity evident in the text of the proposal.

5) You can send us your draft proposal by email but your final proposal, including your supporting material should be in hard copy only, and should reach us on or before July 15^th, 2013.

6) You are responsible for the delivery of your proposal and supporting material to IFA by the closing date. Late applications will not be accepted.

7) If your proposal is short-listed, you may be requested to respond to evaluations.

8) Your proposal will be assessed with the help of external evaluators, and IFA’s decision on grants will be final.

Eligibility
You are eligible to apply if you are an Indian national, a registered non-profit Indian organisation, or have been resident in India for at least five years.

Ila Dalmia FICA Research Grant and other opportunities

The Ila Dalmia FICA Research Grant 2013 The Ila Dalmia FICA Research Grant, instituted by FICA with the help of art historian and writer Yashodhara Dalmia in the memory of her sister Ila Dalmia, aims to provide an annual grant to support research on Indian modern and contemporary art. The grant will be for a sum of Rs. 2 lakhs and will focus on encouraging independent research by students and scholars in India. The application is open to individuals who are committed to researching in the field of visual arts with particular focus on Indian modern and contemporary art. This could include important first-hand research and archiving of art and art historical material, or a critical study of Indian art history, art criticism and practice, or an interdisciplinary analysis of the theory and practice in the visual arts, or studies in the related domains of curation, exhibitions, collection and the art economy. The recipient of the Grant Will be expected to complete their research within the one year period of the grant. Will be given the opportunity to travel to Delhi and present their paper at the annual Ila Dalmia Memorial Lecture to a public audience upon completion. Call for applications for the Ila Dalmia FICA Research Grant 2013 will be opened in June 2013. Click here for more details. Emerging Artist Award 2013 FICA is currently accepting applications for the Emerging Artist Award (EAA) 2013. The award is presented to young Indian artists who demonstrate extraordinary skill and promise in the visual arts. The EAA is presented by FICA in collaboration with Pro Helvetia - Swiss Arts Council, and Vadehra Art Gallery.The Award includes a 12-week residency in Switzerland and a solo exhibition in New Delhi.  Deadline for applications is 30 June 2013. Click here for more details. Other curatorial opportunities The 5th Gwangju Biennale International Curator Course: Deadline for applications 10 May 2013. Click here for more details.  Japan Foundation invites Indian curators for a 3-week programme in Japan. Deadline for applications is 10 May 2013. Click here for more details