All Eyes on The Prize

Jasmine Shah Varma gives a round-up of this year's Asia Arts Game Changer Awards India.

- Jasmine Shah Varma

Envisioned as a bridge institution that facilitates mutual consideration between people and institutions in America and Asia, the Asia Society was founded in 1956 by John D. Rockefeller 3rd and has centres in major world cities. The India Centre was initiated in 2006 and has hosted several talks and supported projects on issues ranging from policy to business, education to culture.

The prestigious Asia Arts Game Changer Awards India, instituted by the Asia Society, have been around for the last six years. In its current edition, artists Himmat Shah, Sumakshi Singh and Jasmine Nilani Joseph were felicitated in an online ceremony on the 12th of April.

The 89-years-old Shah was awarded The Ark Foundation Asia Arts Vanguard Award 2022 for being a pioneer an influencer in his generation and a mentor to other artists. The Jaipur-based maverick sculptor is renowned for his creations in terracotta and bronze, especially the iconic heads as well as murals involving geometric abstraction. In his brief virtual address, he said, "For honouring my life of struggle and art, I am deeply thankful.”

In its journey to recognise the contribution of senior artists, Asia Society has conferred the Vanguard Award to Krishen Khanna (2017); Arpita Singh and the Kochi Biennale (2018); Akbar Padamsee and Gulammohammed Sheikh (2019); Vivan Sundaram (2020); and Jyoti Bhatt (2021). Some of the other eminent artists from India who have got awards from other Asia Society Centres include Nalini Malani, Zarina, Subodh Gupta and Bharti Kher.

Every year, two artists are selected for the Future Award, one from India and the other from another Asian country. This year, Sumakshi Singh was presented with the Emami Art Asia Arts Future Award and Sri Lanka-born Jasmine Nilani Joseph was awarded the Durjoy Bangladesh Foundation (DBF) Asia Arts Future Award.

Himmat Shah with his sculptures. 2016.