On October 10, Kala Sutra heralded its 10th year with a grand gala dinner at Jubilee Ballroom at Raffles Hotel.
The exhibition was organised in partnership with the High Commission of India, Singapore, and supported by Livspace, Asia's leading omni-channel platform for interior design and renovations and Tatler Singapore.
The evening commenced with a cocktail reception, during which guests immersed themselves in some of the artworks on display, and officially kicked things off in the ballroom. Rititka Khattar, the founder and CEO of Singapore-based events company Phi Events, gave the opening speech, highlighting Kala Sutra's significance in showcasing Indian art to the global audience.
With its repertoire of working with leading designers, artists, and businessmen and partnerships spanning the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI) and the Singapore Arts Council, Phi Events is well-versed in orchestrating high-caliber events that bridge cultural, artistic, and commercial realms. The night was the brainchild of Phi Events’ dream team Khattar and Himani Dahiya, who meld their backgrounds in art, entertainment, fashion and advertising to create experiences that are not just visually stunning, but also intellectually resonant. With meticulous attention to detail, Khattar and Dahiya have a knack for blending aesthetic appeal with substantive content, ensuring that each event they curate becomes a conversation starter, sparking dialogues across industries and disciplines.
“Throughout its journey, Kala Sutra has always celebrated the works of the Indian contemporary masters and we are happy to be showcasing their best works right here in Singapore,” said Khattar. Her speech was followed by a video presentation that provided a retrospective of the exhibition and delved into a detailed exploration of the artworks featured.
The esteemed Indian art masters, such as Jayasri Burman, Neeraj Goswami, and Paresh Maity, were then honoured onstage. Following this, a panel discussion, led by Samba Natarajan and featuring Sanchit Joshan, ensued, during which the artists shared insights into their childhood dreams and the inspirations behind their artworks. Meanwhile, attendees savoured a sumptuous Indian cuisine feast.
The dinner concluded with a live performance by sand artist Lawrence Koh. Following that, closing remarks were delivered by LivSpace's co-founder and chief executive Anuj Srivastava, followed by Khattar and Himani Dahiya. They also encouraged the guests to join them for the exhibition's official opening the next day.
The Kala Sutra exhibition is open to public at The Arts House, Gallery 2 Blue Room and Living Room, from now until October 15.