Artists from around the World contribute to Human Rights art exhibition in Bristol
Bapu Surat Singh Khalsa's struggle has entered its 434th day on 24 March, 2016 (ਧਰਮ ਯੁਧ ਮੋਰਚਾ 2, ਦਿਨ 434).
Visitors to the #Art4Justice exhibition included Laura Pye, Head of Culture for Bristol City Council and George Ferguson, Mayor of Bristol, who commented that it was a, “Brilliant, eye-opening exhibition.”
23rd March 2016, Bristol, UK: Singh Sabha Gurdwara (Sikh place of worship), St George Bristol hosted an art exhibition on Sunday 20th March inspired by Bapu Surat Singh, an 83-year-old Indian from the United States who has been on hunger strike in India for over 400 days calling for the release of Sikh political prisoners. He has been periodically detained by the Indian Police and force-fed during his hunger strike.
Curator of the exhibition Dr Manjit Kaur Dhinsa said, “This has been a grass roots campaign,
and the contributions we have had from artists and poets have been humbling. We have
had work from around the world, including the USA, Canada, India and Russia. The
exhibition has been supported by all the Bristol Gurdwaras and we are thankful to Parmjit
Kaur President of the Gurdwara for allowing us to host it here.”
Artist Jyoti Dhanjal from Hertfordshire said he found out about the human rights campaign
after seeing images of Bapu on social media, “I wanted to help his campaign using the
following I have on social media. I did a painting based on one of the photos which I
thought was very powerful. The strain of his hunger strike shows on his face.” This was the
first time Jyoti has exhibited in Bristol and he added, “Bristol is amazing. There has been a
steady flow of people who came to see the exhibition. I will definitely be coming back to
the city as there is a real interest in arts and culture and I would like to do some street art
or mural work here. It’s been a great experience.”
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| @whatsonbristol please visit @bapusuratsingh #Art4Justice exhibition FREE Entry @manjkaur21 #RT |
Emerging artist Melody Sale from Plymouth said, “I was asked to do a piece for the
exhibition by event organiser and Plymouth councillor Chaz Singh. I didn’t know very
much about the campaign so it was as much a learning process for me as well as a creative
one. I have learnt so much, not just about the protest, but also about the Sikh community,
that has been amazing. I really want to help and I hope that through this exhibition we
can raise awareness and help the prisoners.”
Editor’s Notes
Multimedia press kit
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/lrflq36fu8rseh3/AADpqL5fTQgRwWP_jJ446iH1a?dl=0
(Key to photographs - in the above Link, - from left to right:
Image 1: Parmjit Kaur (President of Singh Sabha Gurdwara) and Kevin Attwood (Artist);
credit Hawk-Eye Photography
Image 2: Chaz Singh (organiser of exhibition) and Melody Sale (artist)- Melody’s pencil
sketch drawing of Bapu Surat Singh is in view; credit Hawk-Eye Photography
Image 3: George Ferguson (Mayor of Bristol) and Jyoti Dhanjal (Artist)- Jyoti’s painting of
Bapu Surat Singh is in view; credit Dilawer Singh Potiwal
Image 4: Melody Sale viewing artwork by other artists; credit Hawk-Eye Photography
Image 5: Visitors viewing exhibition; credit Hawk-Eye Photography
Image 6: Chaz Singh (organizer of exhibition), Hung Truong & Emily Gumbrell (PCSOs Avon and Somerset Police, Jill Griffin (Artist- with her art work in the centre), Dilawer Singh Potiwal (organiser of event); credit Hawk-Eye Photography)
Website http://www.freesikhprisoners.com
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/bapusuratsingh
Twitter - @bapusuratsingh
Contact:
Chaz Singh
[email protected]