American art corners Bangloreans

The American Corner, which is celebrating its sixth anniversary, treated numerous enthusiasts to the masterpieces of American art through “Picturing America”.

The exhibition was an initiative from the National Endowment for the Humanities in co-operation with the American Library Association.

Daniel T Saint-Rossy, public affairs officer of the US Consulate in Chennai, said, “It is a wonderful idea to understand the history of America through art, as portrayed by artists. In the space of an hour, people can stitch up all the events together.”

“The exhibition is an excellent way to understand the rich and complex US-India relationship,” he added.

The programme provided students and citizens an opportunity to appreciate American art in the form of paintings, sculpture, architecture and photography. It also provided an insight into the character, ideals and aspirations of the US. The art exhibition has its next stopover in Madurai.

Commenting on Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, which houses the American Corner in Bangalore, Saint-Rossy said it was the ideal place for exchanging information. Narrating his experience in India over the last three weeks, Rossy said he had been referring to books, magazines, and Bollywood movies to get an idea of the culture of India.

“I got anxious and despaired when I saw movies and tried to fit in. However, I was introduced to the country’s rich culture and heritage by reading books and I now feel closer to India,” he said. Dr Mathur Krishnamurthy, executive director of Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, and A Krishnamurthy were present at the event.
As part of the event, a discussion on “Defining Internet Freedom” is being held at Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan at 6 pm on Tuesday.
The American Corner at Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan provides a window on life and culture in the US.