From paintings to sculptures to films to literature — the third edition of Punjab Art Initiative has plenty to offer to tricity art lovers

Punjab Art Initiative, an art festival supported by Yuj Arts Foundation, commenced its third edition with a miniature painting session, titled Raga Mala, by Anubhav Som, illustrating Indian musical ragas. Complementing this was an interactive live painting workshop by 15 student artists from Chandigarh University.

This year’s theme, Transcending Boundaries, inspires artists to create innovative artworks and sculptures that reflect their vision, imagination, and artistic talents.

Transforming the walls of the VR Punjab Mall into an art gallery, the mall has been transformed into a hub of artistic celebration, with installations, fine art, photography, exhibitions, workshops, creative competition, art cinema screening, and an artisanal bazaar.

Over 300 art installations, sculptures, paintings and photographs are on display at the festival. The installations are by the students from Chandigarh University, Chitkara University, Chandigarh Lalit Kala Akademi, Sanskar Bharti Foundation, and other senior artists. The Kala Car is created in collaboration with the multidisciplinary artist Chitwan Singh Nanda.

The highlights of the festival include a photo exhibition based on UNESCO’s publication A Braided River: The Universe of Indian Women in Science, a digital showcase titled Interwoven Legacies: Synergies between World Heritage and Living Heritage in India.

Through a prestigious collaboration with Chandigarh Tourism, Punjab Art Initiative will display a collection of paintings and photography contributed by Le Corbusier Centre. Also, a special screening of The Power of Utopia-Living with the Le Corbusier in Chandigarh will be held on October 19.

Another significant event, The Punjab Literature Festival, will feature an interesting line-up of authors for the audience to connect with. Among them are Sahitya Akademi and Mira Award-winning writer Nand Kishore Acharya, Yash Bharti Award-winning author Khushbir Singh Shaad, and celebrated authors like Durjoy Dutta and Dr Ishinna Sadana. Other attractions include a section called Punjab in Focus that displays photographs of the city taken by both seasoned photographers and emerging talents. The Art Bazaar offers a curated market for local artisans.