INDIAN ART

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31770, 29 August 1968, Page 12

INDIAN ART

Appeal At Exhibition

An exhibition of Indian batik art was opened in Christchurch last evening by the High Commissioner for India (Mr S. W. Chopra), who said he hoped it would increase New Zealanders’ understanding of the problem of the underprivileged in India. The exhibition has been sponsored by the Christchurch South Lions Club to raise funds for the building of a rehabilitation centre and orphanage in Bombay. More than 50 exhibits are on display at prices ranging from $8 to $3OO and many have already been sold. The head of the School of Fine Arts at the University of Canterbury (Professor H. J. Simpson) told an audience at the opening that batik art involved using a wax and dye technique on cloth to produce pictures and designs. The technique was very old. Miss Diana Balemi, a New Zealander, who is organising the village of hope project in Bombay said last evening that the aim was to rehabilitate the destitute with work programmes rather than the usual relief and charity handouts.

“These underprivileged Indians do not want charity: they just want a chance to work,” she said. “All the exhibits on display have been produced by physically handicapped, illiterate and needy Indian adults, and show they can help themselves once started.”

The exhibition will be open until September 3 at the Canterbury Society of Arts new gallery.