German Ambassador Philipp Ackermann hosted the final Art-in-Residence programme ahead of concluding his tenure in India this August, focusing on emerging talent. The showcase featured Ram Dongre, who comes from a family of traditional painters of gods and goddesses and now works in contemporary art, blending heritage with modern expression through his series Shesh-Avshesh.
Calling the occasion “sentimental,” Ackermann said, “This is the sixth and last art-in-residence event. It is sentimental. Before starting this programme, I felt that Dilli has a very big art market, there are a lot of people willing to invest in art, and at the same time, there are so many artists who don’t get the exposure.” Talking about Dongre, he added, “This artist is from Madhya Pradesh, he comes from a family that painted idols, and he is into contemporary art, so it is a marriage between old and the new.”
Artist Ram Dongre on His Work
Speaking about showcasing his work at the Ambassador’s residence, Dongre said, “I am a person who lives in a village. I have come here through my art. I have come here through nature. If there were no nature, I would not make paintings about it.” Giving details about his artworks, he added, “Whatever is deteriorating in nature, the elements that are disappearing, I try to show that in my work. If you see my painting, you will see something broken and shattered; that is what I am trying to depict.”
The event also saw the presence of other diplomats, including Marje Luup, Ambassador of Estonia, and Diana Mickevičienė, Ambassador of Lithuania. Ackermann noted that Delhi has a very big art market with many people willing to invest in art, yet many artists lack exposure. The programme aimed to bridge that gap by providing a platform for emerging artists like Dongre.
