Art. A creative impulse that springs unfettered from the human soul, no matter when, where and how. Beyond language. Beyond geography. Expressions of perceived and imagined realities, dream-worlds and nightmares. Is there a "language" of art which will help people from different ends of the world speak to each other? Is there a universality of artistic experiences? Crosshatched believes that art binds, art brings closer people who may have nothing else in common. Art talks. WHAT IS CROSSHATCHED? CROSSHATCHED is an innovative experimental conceptual programme put together by Sandra Bowkett (Australia) and Minhazz Majumdar (India) which envisages the coming together of multiple cultural streams and artistic expressions in the hope of creating something new or in the least, promoting wider cultural understanding. For the first time ever, three artists from folk traditions in India are being brought to Australia to work collaboratively with 3 Australian artists in the first phase of Crosshatched. This project is an attempt to go beyond the typical business-as-usual cultural showcasing that happens when artists visit another country - Crosshatched wants the artists to work together, to see where ideas mesh even without common languages, to seek out the essence of communication between people, particularly through art. WHY CROSSHATCHED? The bringing together of the 8 principal participants will create an opportunity for in depth cross cultural experiences that will contribute to greater understanding of the others' culture. This experience will then ripple to the wider community through the future work of the artists and will help in promoting cultural cooperation and innovative artistic offerings. Activities organized will promote Indian culture to the wider Australian community. Participation in these events will also enhance the Indian visitors’ experience of Australia, the result being mutual cultural understanding. Crosshatched would like to thank The Australia-India Council for the financial assistance it has given. CROSSHATCHED EVENTS # Lino-Cut and Etching Workshop for the Indian artists at Jan Palethorpe's studio. # Collaborations between Indian and Australian artists # Workshops on Mithila paper -mache sculptures and pattachitra art with school children at ArtPlay for two days # Two-day interactive story-telling, paper-mache sculpting and scroll making sessions with children at the Early Learning Centre, The University of Melbourne. # Evening of art and performance at Hansavihar, Chandrabhanu's Bharatalaya Academy. # Workshop on paper-mache sculpting and demonstration of scroll painting and stroy-telling with children at the Monash Childcare centre # Festival of Indian arts at Art Play funded by the City of Melbourne. # Grand Finale Show of the art of the visiting Indian artists and the collaborative outcome of the project at Easey Street Artist Studio and Gallery. In addition to these events, Minhazz Majumdar made several presentations to post-graduate and Masters students at the CCD Victoria College of Arts. Minhazz Majumdar and Mantu Chitrakar participated in a lecture-presentation by Dr. Chandrabhanu at LaTrobe University. Minhazz Majumdar made a presentation about the project and Mantu Chitrakar performed a scroll song to the Arts and Culture Branch, City of Melbourne 
Workshops for Indian Artists in Australia The visiting Indian artists Pradyumna Kumar, Pushpa Kumari and Mantu Chitrakar attended a 10 day print-making workshop conducted by Jan Palethorpe at her studio in Chewton. For the Indian artists, coming as they do from folk traditions... more
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