Join us on May 1st...

May 2007 New York – American India Foundation and Bose Pacia Gallery presents Put it On, a solo exhibition by the artists known as Thukral & Tagra. The gallery is located at 508 West 26th Street on the 11th Floor, in the Chelsea district of New York City. On May 1^st, 2007 from 6:30pm – 8:30pm, there will be a panel discussion on the exhibition aimed at promoting HIV/AIDS Awareness with the artists, Rema Nanda Director, AIF Public Health/HIV/AIDS and Mandeep Bedi, Leadership Council member, AIF SAHAYA.

American India Foundation’s SAHAYA- Youth Against AIDS program is a new initiative to mobilize young professionals, and their creative, business and interpersonal skills to combat HIV/AIDS in India. AIF believes that the growing influence of young professionals makes them strong ambassadors for promoting healthy lifestyles among their counterpart in India who are increasingly vulnerable to the fast spreading HIV/AIDS virus.

The American India Foundation (AIF) is a non-profit organization charged with the mission of accelerating social and economic change in India. AIF works in three areas: Public Health, Education, and Livelihoods, and through partnerships with effective NGOs provides grants that benefit impoverished groups in India. AIF also
administers SAHAYA: Youth against AIDS, the Service Corps, and Digital Equalizer initiatives. Former President Bill Clinton serves as AIF’s Honorary Chair.

Based in New Delhi, Jiten Thukral (born 1976) and Sumir Tagra (born 1979) collaboratively in a wide variety of media including painting, sculpture, installation, video, graphic and product design, websites, music and fashion. Put it On is a unique exhibition aimed at arriving at a range of probable solutions for HIV awareness vigilance through the visual arts. Thukral & Tagra are among a new generation of young Indian artists attempting to present a personal rendition of what is happening in the cities of India today with a particular focus on the global epidemic of AIDS. The exhibition will include large-scale paintings on canvas and mixed-media installations incorporating custom-designed products such as undergarments and foot wear. The art works of Thukral & Tagra often presents a synthesis of the multiple mediums in which they work.

The paintings are hung on vinyl wall-papers of their own design and fashion products presented as store-like displays with messages promoting safe sex practices and their own hyper-stylized logo incorporated throughout. The entire project has been described by the artists as “an eye opener (which has) taken us to places where things have become transparent, sensitive and responsible.” Despite this socially conscious endeavor by Thukral & Tagra, they acknowledge that their effort is “definitely a mere baby step against the serious problem of HIV and its efforts.” Jiten Thukral completed his BFA at Chandhigarh College of Arts, India and his MFA Delhi College of Art, India. Sumir Tagra completed his BFA at Delhi College of Art, India and his Post-Graduate studies in Communication Design at the National Institute Design Ahmedabad, India. The artists have participated in a number of group and solo shows. Important recent exhibitions were presented at Gallery Nature Morte (New Delhi, 2007) and Teatro Armani, (Milan, 2006). In June 2007, they will present a site-specific installation in the Art Statements section of Art Basel 38 in Basel, Switzerland. They have received numerous prestigious awards and were recently singled out by Wallpaper one of 101 emerging international designers. Both of the artists live and work in Delhi.

For more information on AIF Sahaya – Youth Against AIDS, please contact: bhuvana.bhagat@aifoundation.org Phone: 646.530.8974. Visit: www.aifoundation.org / www.aif-sahaya.blogspot.com