Neekoee Artist’s Grant – Ajmal Shifaz

Ajmal Shifaz

Project: Echo of Nothing (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1VNWqrhDzpA)

B.F.A, Govt, College of Fina Arts Thrissur , Kerela

Master in Visual Art, Shiv Nadar University

1. 1. a well rounded and thoughtful proposal
   2. Engaging the community, children and the metal workers in creating the mobile sculpture allows co-authorship and agency that can be an important component of socially engaged art practice.
   3. The ability to engage with the aftermath of the carnage and the creation of the mobile sculpture for public intervention has the potential to generate a meta-communication by involving the audience to engage with the horror of loss and trauma.
   4. sculpture for public intervention has the potential to generate a meta-communication
   5. The intervention of the given mobile sculpture around the city gives a clear sense of the audience, herein, people in the city.

About Neekoee Artist’s Grant/Neekoee Artist fellowship Programme,

As a result of the pandemic, art practice faces new challenges today. To counter the uncertainty, fear, and isolation, the Foundation extends its commitment towards the cause of supporting artists and their work. We are delighted to announce two motivational grants for young artists in the field of visual and performing arts. The intention is to galvanize artistic action and help sustain art practice through these difficult times.

The Greek root of the word “crisis” describes a turning point (in a disease, in a society). The two art grants are a step in the direction of thinking about the many ways in which change could take us. Can we imagine alternative communities, collaborations, and solidarities emerging out of our current predicament? Can we point towards new systems for disseminating works of art? Can we produce artistic approaches which adapt to the new reality, or help to shape it? Can we resume art practice under these extraordinary pressures, and if yes, how? These art grants are an opportunity to find our way.

Proposals for new projects were invited from artists working in the medium of painting, sculpture, theatre, video, photography, sound, performance, software/code, dance, public sites, internet, or any other. Proposals could take the form of social practice, collaborative performance, interactive art, artist-led production, or creative processes. Proposals were to be anchored in strong research, or may explore cross-disciplinary practices. The two grants were open to established and emerging definitions of art practice.

A jury of eminent people selected the awardees.
The final grantees were mentored by

Sharmila Samant
Visual Artist | Faculty, Dept.
Art, Design and Performance
Shiv Nadar University

Amitesh Grover
Performance-based Artist & Curator Faculty, National School of Drama

The Foundation strongly believes that art has several intrinsic benefits that enrich our emotions, stimulate our minds as well as entertain us. Individuals and communities cherish arts and culture for these benefits. However, art also has an impact on social cohesion, education, local economies, health and wellbeing. By bringing thought provoking productions, delivering top quality workshops, supporting local artists and providing a platform to community members and students to engage with artists of international repute they aim to widen the reach of art and culture across social, economic and cultural divides in the city. The explicit charter of the Foundation is to bring these benefits to Ahmedabad for improvement of the individual and the society by bridging communities and cultures of the region, country and the world.