An exhibition showcasing artworks from the ASEAN-India Artists’ Camp 3.0 has opened at the Sushma Swaraj Institute of Foreign Service in New Delhi, marking ten years of India’s Act East Policy and the ASEAN-India Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
The exhibition, organised by the Ministry of External Affairs in collaboration with SEHER, features works created during the third edition of the artists’ camp held in Shillong from March 29 to April 7, 2025.
A total of 21 artists participated in the camp, including representatives from all 10 ASEAN member states, one artist from Timor-Leste as observer, and 10 artists from India. The artworks reflect diverse cultural perspectives while drawing on shared narratives.
The exhibition was inaugurated on April 20 by Raj Kumar Srivastava, Dean of SSIFS, in the presence of Joint Secretary Anita Shukla and curator Sanjeev Bhargava, Founder Director of SEHER. Members of the diplomatic community and cultural practitioners attended the opening.
Curated around the theme “Echoes of Ramayana: Artistic Journeys across ASEAN and India,” the exhibition explores interpretations of the Ramayana across regions, highlighting its continued cultural relevance and adaptation across Southeast Asia.
Officials said the New Delhi showcase is the first display of the collection, which will later travel across ASEAN member states. The exhibition is also being held alongside a special course for diplomats from ASEAN countries, linking cultural engagement with diplomatic exchange.
According to organisers, the initiative aims to strengthen people-to-people ties and cultural understanding between India and ASEAN through art and shared heritage.