In Shillong, what is brewing? Return of the ASEAN-India Artists’ Camp: Three Regions, One Cultural Canvas, Ten Days

• The camp brings artists from ASEAN, Timor Leste, and India into a shared creative space, where ideas will flow as freely as paint and conversations bridge cultures
• The masterpieces created during the camp will first be displayed in a special exhibition in Shillong, followed by showcases in New Delhi and Malaysia, the ASEAN Chair for 2025

From March 29 to April 7, 2025, the third edition of the ASEAN-India Artists’ Camp (AIAC) will take place in Shillong, bringing together 21 artists from ASEAN Member States, Timor Leste, and India for a 10-day residency. In accordance with the decisions made and approved at the 21st ASEAN-India Summit and India’s all-encompassing strategic partnership in the field of culture, the camp, which is being organized by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in partnership with Seher, will commemorate ten years of India’s Act East Policy by utilizing art as a medium for cultural dialogue.

First conceptualized in 2017 by Sanjeev Bhargava, Founder-Director of SEHER, AIAC has emerged as a key platform for cultural engagement between India and Southeast Asia. Unlike traditional diplomatic gatherings, it will offer a more intimate setting, where artists from different regions, tucked away together, will spend days exchanging techniques, experiences, and perspectives over steaming cups of tea. The focus is not solely on the stunning works they will create – though those are sure to impress – but on the quiet, meaningful exchanges that will echo long after the camp wraps up. Over ten days, artists will create original works, take part in workshops on classical dance, music, and handicrafts, and explore India’s artistic traditions in a collaborative setting. They will also hold interactive sessions with local art students in Shillong and conduct a special workshop at a local school, where visiting ASEAN artists will share their skills and experiences with young learners.

Some of the ASEAN artists taking part in the camp are Ms. Chong Ai Chezer (Singapore), Mr. Abilio da Conceição Silva (Timor Leste), Mr. Panich Phupratana (Thailand), Mr. Phonesith Yernsensuly (Lao PDR), Ms. Mohana Kumara Velu (Malaysia), Ms. Lou Lim (Philippines), Ms. Nwe Ni Soe (Myanmar), Mr. Ros Norak (Cambodia), along with Indian artists Ms. Mrudula Kunatharaju (multi-disciplinary artist), Ms. Mousumi Biswas (realistic figurative paintings), Ms. Japani Shyam Dhurwey (Gond artist), Mr. Kazi Nasir (realistic contemporary nature and wildlife paintings), Mr. Prakash Joshi (Phad artist), Mr. Aayush (wash painting), Mr. Vinay Kumar (Cheriyal artist), Mr. Bappa Chitrakar (Kali Ghat artist), Mr. Chandan Bez Baruah (Postmodernism in Landscape), Mr. Raphael Warjri (acrylic painting).

During the camp, the artists will talk about various forms of painting and their shared cultural histories in various styles and forms of art, initiated and guided by the esteemed Mentors of the Camp—Samindranath Majumdar, Tanmoy Samanta, and Yogendra Tripathi. Each artist will create one work of art, representing different styles—contemporary, modern, traditional, impressionist—while still carrying the essence of their own culture and history.

Mr. Sanjeev Bhargava said, “This camp feels like a heartbeat shared across borders. A gathering where artists don’t just meet, but truly see each other. It’s special because it’s messy and real: paint-stained hands, late-night stories, and the kind of laughter that bridges languages. For me, it’s about watching strangers become family through art, carrying their traditions and dreams into something new, something that lingers in your chest long after the brushes are down.”

A virtual introductory session on March 25 will bring the artists together ahead of the residency. The official press conference and launch of the camp will take place in Delhi on March 29, before the camp moves to Shillong. The event will close with a ceremony featuring cultural performances and an exhibition, attended by senior officials from the Ministry of External Affairs.

Before traveling to Malaysia, the ASEAN Chair for 2025, for a week-long exhibition, the camp’s creations will be initially seen in a two-day display in New Delhi. By employing art to foster closer regional and cultural relations, AIAC keeps expanding the ASEAN-India Dialogue Relations with every edition.