South Asian Network for the Arts (SANA)

Since its inception in 1997, KHOJ has worked consistently at building relationships with artists' communities within South Asia. Artists from the region have been invited to participate in the KHOJ workshops each year and have visited international workshops through out the world through the Triangle Network. Several of them were energized by the experience who together with expertise provided by KHOJ and Triangle Arts Trust set up similar initiatives in their own countries.

An integral part of our programme at KHOJ is committed towards creating partnerships with artists in South Asia/Asia. Since 2000, we have worked with Triangle arts Trust (A network of Workshops under the umbrella of the Triangle Arts Trust, which was set up by Robert Loder, and Sir Anthony Caro in 1982) to develop workshops and residencies in the region.

Our partners in South Asia are:

* VASL International Artists Workshop, Pakistan

Vasl is an artist-led initiative, which brings together local and international artists for a period of intensive exchange of ideas and art practice, based in the cities of Lahore and Karachi.


* BRITTO Arts Trust, Bangladesh

Britto International Artist's Workshop is an artist-led, not for profit trust committed towards promoting exchange and dialogue between artistic communities internationally and within the region.


* THEERTHA International Artists Collective, Sri Lanka

Theertha International Artists Workshop is an autonomous, artist led initiative based in Colombo. We are committed to promoting intercultural understanding by providing an environment conducive to artistic exploration and experimentation through networkng with contemporary visual artist communities in South Asia, Africa, the Asia - Pacific rim , Europe, the Americas and other countries.


* SUTRA, Arts Centre, Nepal

SUTRA is an art group based in Kathmandu. Sutra encourages artistic expressions through performing arts, fine art, music, films, writing and other mediums to create an impulse to bring about better changes in the society through creative arts.

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Read Further about Khoj's role in South Asia ..>>
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International workshops and residency programmes have been organized by the various groups in which core invitees are from the region. This has facilitated the circulation of visual artists within the region. It has helped develop an understanding of the art of the region where little or none existed before.

The impact of the South Asian Network to some extent derives from artists groups working together for a common aim. They share experience and draw strength from each other and this contributes to holding the Network together. The energy that comes from this sharing results in educational workshops and exhibitions of work that might not otherwise happen - very often with very limited financial resources.

Now that the Network is established in the region it is possible to see some Ripples of the benefits of setting up a system of informal learning by exchange that runs alongside the formal institutions and creates a means of communication between artists both within countries and within the South Asia region.

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In 2001 KHOJ organised 'Chaos or Congruence', the first ever symposium on contemporary art with critics and curators from south Asia/Asia. On the same occasion, KHOJ invited art historian Virgina Whiles to curate Manoevering Miniatures , the first exhibition of contemporary miniature painting from Pakistan in New Delhi.

KHOJ has lead the development of a digital network between the above mentioned artist led initiatives in the region with a view to increasing accessibility both between artists and between the general public.

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Khoj's role in South Asia
Ripples
'Chaos or Congruence'
Manoevering Miniatures
Digital network