Brushstrokes across borders: ASEAN artists bring diverse visions to Shillong in cultural celebration

Against the serene hills and monsoon-kissed skies of Meghalaya's capital, the third edition of the ASEAN-India Artists' Camp (AIAC) unfolded as a celebration of cultural convergence and creativity.

- ABHIJIT DEB

With 21 artists representing ASEAN member states, Timor-Leste and India, the 10-day camp transformed Heritage Hotel Tripura Castle in Shillong into a living studio of colours, stories and shared inspirations. Organised by the ministry of external affairs (MEA), government of India, in collaboration with Seher, the AIAC has emerged as a significant cultural bridge under India's Act East Policy.

This year's edition brought together a fascinating spectrum of artistic traditions from Southeast Asia — from printmaking in Vietnam to surrealism from Malaysia, and intricate traditional techniques from Myanmar and Brunei.