Cultural Gateways: Mumbai & Dubai as Creative Capitals - Panel discussion

Owais Husain’s work explores identity, iconography, and urban mythology and its evolution from one generation to the next, illustrating his relationship with and abstraction of a more traditional Indian aesthetic. Whimsical references can be seen in his series To Speak is to Disappear, 2009, a set of delicate ink drawings on handmade Khadi paper of figures trying to communicate and connect to each other to no avail. In the painting, Sympathy vs. Empathy, 2014, a young boy and a Bengal tiger confront each other face to face, the boy appropriates the identity of the tiger with a mask while the tiger’s own face is hidden from the viewer. More complex and abstract are Husain’s Heart of Silence, 2015, a multi-media installation comprised of video, large suspended paper houses, light and reflection, and My Body, A Fleet of Ships, 2014, in which acrylic panels densely layered with photographic images and paintings surround fragments of terracotta figures. Both installations also incorporate poetry into the mixture of visual elements. Using film, photography, painting, sculpture, installation and poetry - in various combinations or on their own - Husain creates visually textured works that both reference his roots in a traditional Indian figurative style and embody his constant pursuit to evolve and contemporize that iconography. Instagram : @owaisstudio Website : https://owaishusain.com

Pavitra Rajaram: Creative Director at Nilaya Anthology Few understand the workings of craftsmanship better than Pavitra Rajaram, who has been immersed in the Indian crafts space for almost three decades now. As the design director of Nilaya Anthology, Rajaram knows that beauty is never static and weaves itself from the threads of human connection across time. She brings to bear this knowledge to curate and create a world-class collection of everything a storied home might ever need—from furnishings, to collectible craft, to antiques, and modern and contemporary design. Rajaram is emphatic that India has always been, and continues to be, both a producer and a consumer of world-class design, and it is for such evolved aesthetes that she brings together a collection of vibrant narratives, electric with the possibility of reinterpretation and reinvention.  Instagram : @Teaonthebluesofa  ; @nilaya.anthology X : @PavitraRajaram Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/rajarampavitra LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/in/pavitra-rajaram-0ba8967/

Nada Raza is a curator and researcher with a particular interest in South and West Asia and Indian Ocean trade histories. She is currently the director of Alserkal Arts Foundation, where she oversees a residency programme, research grants, public programmes and public art projects with a commitment to interregional dialogue and artistic exchange. Having begun curating in Dubai in 2005, Nada moved to London and worked at Green Cardamom, Iniva and Tate, where she brought South Asian art into the collection and displays, co-curating Bhupen Khakhar in 2016. She returned to the UAE in 2018 to set up the Ishara Art Foundation. Nada holds an MA from the Chelsea College of Art and Design and is a doctoral candidate at the Courtauld Institute of Art. Instagram : @nada_raza ; @alserkalavenue X : @AlserkalAvenue LinkedIn :https://www.linkedin.com/in/nadaraza/

Mrs Madhu Ruia (Opening and Closing Remarks) Wife of Mr. Ravi Ruia, the Vice Chairman of the Essar Group, Mrs. Madhu Ruia has always believed in continuous learning programs. She founded Avid Learning in 2009 as a platform that creates opportunities for curious lifelong learners to cross their existing boundaries and interact with experienced masters in arts, culture, and new-age topics like NFTs and cryptocurrency. Her interest in Hindu religious thought led her to complete online and offline courses at the Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies. She was subsequently invited to join their board and now holds an honorary position at the prestigious institution. As a board member of The Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies (OCHS)—an academy dedicated to the study of Hindu cultures, societies, philosophies, religions, and languages—she continues to support its mission of academic excellence. A firm believer in lifelong learning, she pursued several courses at the New School in New York City, culminating in the establishment of the Avid Learning platform. An accomplished sitar exponent, she showcased her musical talent on the program titled Ubharte Swar on Lucknow TV. Additionally, she is a self-taught artist and sculptor, winning an award from the Lalit Kala Academy. Mrs. Madhu Ruia is also a founding member of the Sahachari Foundation and Sahachari Foundation Events, which organize cultural initiatives and the prestigious Design One exhibitions in Mumbai and Delhi. Held 4-5 times a year, these events empower emerging talent and raise funds for deserving NGOs, while providing a platform for creative designers to connect with consumers in a growing market.   Instagram : @madhuruia, @avidlearning, @avidlearningme LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/in/madhu-ruia-207586267/ Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/Madhuruiamum

Asad Lalljee (Moderator) Asad Lalljee is SVP, Essar Group, CEO of Avid Learning, a public programming initiative and creative platform under the Essar Group, and Curator, Royal Opera House, Mumbai. Asad brings several years of advertising, publishing, marketing, and business development experience, both in international and domestic markets. Prior to relocating to India, Asad worked for 14 years as one of the ‘Mad Men’ advertising executives on New York's Madison Avenue. He was with McCann-Erickson, and earlier with Hill Holiday, a subsidiary of advertising giant IPG. Under Asad’s leadership, Avid Learning has distinguished itself with a wide variety of arts and cultural programming and is currently India’s leading cultural hub.  AVID has grown its curatorial practice by leveraging international cultural collaborations through the diplomatic core and partnering with the existing ecosystem by creating opportunities at some of the country’s largest cultural platforms including Jaipur Literature Festival (JLF), The Serendipity Arts Festival and The Kala Ghoda Arts Festival. In 2022, Asad was co-opted as a member of the Kala Ghoda Association’s Executive Committee. He has been appointed as a member of the advisory board of the Mumbai Urban Art Festival for the year 2022-2023. In 2016, Asad was appointed curator of the newly restored Royal Opera House, Mumbai for which he has successfully designed an avant-garde series of programs. With Asad’s guidance, the Royal Opera House, Mumbai has re-established itself as a performance space of international quality, a cultural venue par excellence, and a prime example of restored and renewed city heritage. In 2018, Asad was inducted into the prestigious FICCI Art and Culture Committee as a distinguished member. FICCI is the largest and oldest apex business organization in Indian business with a glorious history of nine decades. Asad has co-convened foray conferences for FICCI’s Smart Cities, Art Cities IP in Mumbai, and Bengaluru. In April 2020, he launched AVID ONLINE as a response to the pandemic and successfully presented 240 programs by March 2021. His curatorial choices demonstrate his passion for technology and new media. After introducing the Mumbai audience to the world of NFTs, Asad took Avid Learning to New York, where he kicked off Engendered, New York’s three-week-long exhibition by moderating a panel discussion on ‘State of the Contemporary: NFTs and the Global South.’ It was followed by moderating the opening session of Jaipur Literature Festival’s, New York edition: ‘Digital Entrepreneurship, Innovation, and the Cyber Future.’ Asad’s creative strategy has led to AVID developing a robust social media presence transforming it into an integral channel for learning Asad holds a B.A. in Economics from St. Xavier's College (Mumbai) and an M.A. in Global Marketing Communications from Emerson College (Boston). Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/asad.lalljee Instagram :  @asadlalljee X : @asadlalljee LindkedIn :  :https://www.linkedin.com/in/asadlalljee/