To celebrate 25 years of the Glimpses of India painting competition, the Maulana Azad Centre for Indian Culture (MACIC) under the Embassy of India in Cairo organised a roundtable discussion on “Art in India and Egypt” on 17 October at the Faculty of Art Education of Helwan University. 

 

Experts talked about the development of fine arts in Egypt and India and compared latest developments in the field. They also discussed the salient features of art education in both countries. In addition, an exhibition of selected paintings of winners of Glimpses of India 2018 opened the same day while a workshop on Indian art was conducted at the Museum of Islamic Art on 15 October.

 

The art exhibition, named “Bridge of Friendship,” was held in association with the ministries of education and antiquities of Egypt. 

 

The workshop was attended by 60 selected Egyptian school students from among winners of Glimpses of India 2018.

 

Director of MACIC Liyaqath Ali, vice dean of the Faculty of Art Education Professor Maha Mazyad, art education advisor at the Ministry of Education Rabab Abdel-Mohsen, director of the Islamic Art Museum Mamdouh Osman, together with Indian artists Mintu Deka and Aparna Banerjee, jointly inaugurated the exhibition. As part of the workshop, 12 artists from India gave training to students on Indian art.

 

In his opening remarks, Liyaqath Ali stated that the main objective behind the Glimpses of India painting competition is to sustain age-old friendly relations between the peoples of India and Egypt and hand over this legacy to upcoming generations.

 

From her part, Rabab Abdel-Mohsen appreciated the commitment of MACIC to strengthening people-to-people ties between India and Egypt and providing a unique opportunity for Egyptian students to know more about Indian art.

 

Last year, the Glimpses of India competition was held in 19 governorates and attracted over 14,000 participants.