February 21, 2007: New York, NY - The Indo-American Arts Council (IAAC) is proud to showcase the traveling art exhibition titled 'Erasing Borders: Indian Artists in the American Diaspora' at the Queens Museum of Art (QMA). The show opened at the QMA - the first stop for this traveling exhibit - on February 4, 2007. The closing reception will be held on March 4, 2007, 2-5 pm in the presence of all the artists. Curated by Vijay Kumar, the show presents a diverse collection of work produced by 16 artists who are of Indian origin. This show will now travel to Syracuse, Paducah, Boston and Houston in the coming months.

In the 20th and 21st centuries, 20 million people of Indian descent relocated to different countries. 'Erasing Borders' demonstrates how adaptation, an inextricable feature of Diaspora, has been employed as both a mode of survival and an artistic strategy amidst geographic and cultural changes. Aroon Shivdasani, Executive Director and Founding Member of IAAC, says, "This is the fourth annual exhibition of its kind organized by the Indo-American Arts Council, 'Erasing Borders' articulates the interests and concerns of Diaspora artists living in contemporary society. Not unlike their predecessors, they have also drawn on subject matter from India while referencing the political conditions of their current environment." Ultimately, these artists created their own language of expression by blending Indian aesthetic tropes with the newfound demands of their minority status. They examine issues such as AIDS, poverty and South Asian identity in a post-9/11 world. These artists also grapple with the religious, sexual and ethnic dimensions of this complex reality.

Each artist has developed intensely personal interpretations of the traditional genres of painting, photography, sculpture and prints, landscape, abstraction, Indian miniatures, postmodernism, surrealism, and political history. Together, the works can be seen as an effort to transcend the borders that confine and control preconceived definitions of Indian and Western art. Reeta Karmarkar, a California-based artist, says, "The IAAC recognizes and allows Indian artists to showcase their individual works to a mainstream audience. Indian art does not need to be folkloric and through the IAAC works such as mine are taken seriously even if they don't fit the stereotypical image of what Indian art is perceived to be." A multi-generational selection of artists negotiates Indian and Western approaches to art-making.

'Erasing Borders' enriches the dialogue between today's Indian Diaspora artist community and a flourishing contemporary art scene in India. Kumar observes, "Whether our art has any effect on what's going on in Indian art today or not, we are telling our stories through our talents." While past traditions were often a point of departure for earlier generations, contemporary Diaspora artists must also embrace and reinterpret an India that is more modern than ever. Tom Finkelpearl, Executive Director, Queens Museum of Art, says "The Queens Museum is thrilled to be working with IAAC on this project. The depth and breadth of talent in the Indian community never ceases to astound me. A number of the artists in this 'Erasing Borders' are familiar to us while others are new. We are equally honored to welcome the old friends and the new."

The IAAC has a long history of building awareness of Indian artistic disciplines in North America. IAAC has helped promote Indian culture through art, books, dance, fashion, film, music, and theatre. Since 1998, the IAAC has organized several successful collaborative art shows and events showcasing works of some of India's top artists as well as the Diaspora artists with partner organizations such as Christie's, American Folk Art Museum etc. It is the fourth time the Indo-American Arts Council has showcased Indian Diaspora visual artists: the first was a passport to New York artists' studios; the second and third exhibitions were also titled Erasing Borders.

PARTICIPATING ARTISTS:
Reeta Karmarkar, Vijay Kumar, Bivas Chaudhuri, Satish Joshi, Siona Benjamin, Tara Sabharwal, Nitin Mukul, Ela Shah, Vinod Dave, Nandini Chirimar, Antonio Puri, Anna Bhushan, Delna Dastur, Niyeti Chadha, Alka Mukerji, Yamini Nayar,


CLOSING RECEPTION:
2-5 pm
March 4, 2007
Queens Museum of Art

There will be a free shuttle bus from the Shea Stadium subway stop (# 7) to the
Queens Museum from 2-5 pm on Sunday March 4, 2007