To Japan with love

VADODARA: Over 122 artists from the city are going to be part of an exhibition to raise funds for the victims of double tragedy that struck Japan's north-east provinces. The initiative is taken by Shinobu Mikami, a Japanese student who has just completed postgraduate diploma course in sculpture at the Faculty of Fine Arts of Baroda.
The Committee for Support to Japan (CSJ) has recently been formed by a group of artists in the city to help in hosting this show."My friends in other countries took up similar initiatives to collect funds for the victims of earthquake and tsunami. I thought of doing the same in the city and I am happy have received such an overwhelming support from the artist community as well as faculty members. When the tragedy took place in my home town I was not around to help and I wanted to extend a helping hand staying back here," said Shinobu.
Talking about the committee formed for this show, Shinobu added, "CSJ is a temporary organisation which will not make any financial deals. In case of 100% donation, the buyer will give us one cheque addressed to the Embassy of Japan - Relief Fund for Japanese People, a body formed for accepting donations for re-building activities in Japan post the disaster."
The four-day exhibition titled 'To Japan from Baroda' will open for public from 28 July. The director of Japan Foundation in New Delhi will be present during the show.
"We have done similar shows to raise money for victims of Morbi disaster and the 2002 riots. When Shinobu shared this idea of doing a show for victims of earthquake and tsunami, the artist community extended its support for this show. The faculty is giving the exhibition hall for free for this exhibition," said Vasudevan Akkitham from fine arts, who is also part of CSJ.
"We were expecting some 70 works in the exhibition but now there are more than 122 artists who are contributing works for the show. This is a gesture from our end to show our support and help them in rebuilding their lives," added Indrapamit Roy.
Members of CSJ are hoping to get a good response from the art-loving and supportive citizens of the city. "Our city is known to be an important art hub in the country and we are hoping that galleries from other states too come forward to support this show. Works of well-known and senior artists to the present generation of artists will be displayed in the show," artist and member of CSJ Rahul Mukherjee said.