CULTURAL EXCHNAGE RESIDENCY
India has shared ideas, knowledge, art and culture with the world for centuries, creating connections that transcend borders and generations.
Today, it is time to revive and deepen these global relationships through the universal language of art.
KIAR CULTuREX RESIDENCY, india
India : A Civilisation of Ideas
India has shaped global civilisation through ideas that continue to influence the world—from zero and mathematics to astronomy, Ayurveda and yoga; from ancient languages like Sanskrit, with knowledge like VEDAS, literature to music, visual art, architecture and systems of knowledge. Indian innovations in mathematics and numerical thought helped transform science and commerce, while Indian philosophical and cultural traditions travelled across Asia and beyond. Its artistic traditions continue to inspire contemporary creativity worldwide.The trade route mainly from india to Europe, Asia, indo pacific and lately to Both the American Continents. Most of these countries having ancient ties with India from ancient times to the modern era.
KIAR CULTEREX Residency carries this spirit forward: connecting artists across cultures through art, dialogue, research and cultural exchange. Our mission is to revive meaningful global [ europe, asia, indo pacific and american continents ] connections and create new ones in the present context ; bringing the world together through the universal language of ART.
Art as a Bridge Between India and Globe
If trade opens markets, culture opens minds.
The KIAR Cultural Exchange Residency invites selected EUROPEAN, INDO-PACIFIC OR AMERICAN artists to India for artistic exploration, cultural exchange, research and new perspectives.
Based in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, KIAR is an independent, artist-run international art residency whose programme started in 2011. Since then, 400+ artists from 50+ countries have participated, creating an international community of artists living and working together in India.
This programme builds on that experience to create a focused space for meaningful artistic dialogue between Europe, Asia, Indo Pacific, America and India.
More Than a Residency
KIAR is a place to slow down, observe, exchange ideas, research and allow unfamiliar experiences to enter your artistic thinking.
Bring your practice and your questions. There is no predetermined artistic outcome, and you do not need to create work about India or change your artistic language.
Artistic Research · Cultural Exchange · Dialogue · Observation · Experimentation
Why Bhubaneswar?
Ancient Context. Contemporary Life.
Bhubaneswar offers the rare experience of living within several layers of time at one place. Its cultural history reaches back more than two millennia, with ancient caves, magnificient temples dates back to 5th century to 15th century, sculpture, archaeology and living traditions existing alongside contemporary architecture, technology and modern urban life. The city is famous for the famous KALINGA WAR whiich is the root cause of spread of budhhism to the globe.
As one of India's leading smart-city developments, Bhubaneswar creates a distinctive meeting of heritage and contemporary life. This meeting of different times creates a powerful environment for artistic observation and research. For artists interested in place, memory, identity, time, material, architecture, tradition, transformation or contemporary society, Bhubaneswar offers an environment full of questions.
It is not simply a place to visit. It is a place to observe, question, research and create.
Odisha as an Artistic Landscape
Beyond Bhubaneswar are the cultural worlds of Puri, Konark, Chilika the biggest brakish water lake of asia, famous for migratory birds , 1000+ years old heritage heritage art village;Raghurajpur, more than 60 handmade textiles and handloom traditions making it the handmade textile capital of world, archaeological sites and diverse indigenous [ 60+ tribes ] and tribal cultural environments. Odisha is famous for its traditional dance forms, musics and various ancient festivals like world famous Jagannath rath festival, jhammu jatra, dola jatra, raja festival [ festival of feminism and fertility ], Bali Jatra Asia's biggest open air festiival for trade conected to modern day Bali,Java,Sumatra in Indonesia. There are trade between Kalinga [ ancient name of Odisha ] with rome, greek, egypt, arab, persia, central asian countries in west to srilnaka, indonesia, thailand, vietnam, malayesia, singapore, philipines, taiwan, china, korea and japan in east. Kalinga was a big ocean force and have developed world class technology for ship building with wood and coir rope and local materials. What we call BAY OF BENGAL was wellknoown as Kalinga Sagar [ Kalinga Sea ] before the Britisher's arrival to bengal.
These are not simply destinations. They are living contexts for artistic inquiry. They open questions around architecture, sculpture, material, craft, landscape, ecology, ritual, memory, community, identity, traditional knowledge and contemporary life.
A Residency Beyond the Studio
Artists can engage with Indian artists, craftspeople, traditional practitioners and communities through:
Artist-to-artist dialogue · Research · Studio exchange · Workshops · Knowledge-sharing · Talks · Open studios · Exhibitions · Screenings · Public engagement
The purpose is not to reproduce what is encountered. The purpose is to allow the encounter to influence the artist's thinking.
Globe ↔ India
This is a two-way cultural conversation. Artists from European, Indo pacific , american and countries from buddist circles; bring their practices and perspectives into dialogue with Indian artists and cultural practitioners, while Indian artists and audiences encounter new ideas and approaches from them.
Exchange · Dialogue · Research · Collaboration · Understanding
For Artists Who Want More
Open to emerging and established artists working across:
Painting · Drawing · Sculpture · Photography · Film · Video · Digital & New Media · Installation · Performance · Sound · Textile · Fashion · Writing · Poetry · Curatorial Practice · Art History · Interdisciplinary Practice
We are not looking for a particular style.
We are looking for artists with something to explore.
Come With Questions
You do not need a project about India or a predetermined outcome.
Come with your practice. Come with your curiosity. Come with your questions.
Allow the place, people and conversations to introduce new ones.
The Invitation
Come to India.
Live within a different cultural context.
Exchange ideas with artists.
Explore Odisha.
Give your practice space to evolve.
KIAR Cultural Exchange Residency
Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India
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