Kabutar is a cultural exchange project to promote cross border mobility for artists from East and West. Considering the current situation of chaos, political turmoil and hierarchy of power, Kabutar brings the concept of artists as messengers of peace and harmony while traveling through one country to another and exhibiting Avant Gard artworks as symbolic interpretation to the concept. One can witness the differences of identities in the visual culture of artworks itself. Cultural exchange programs are mostly promotion of diversity and communication between different nations.
“Artworks exhibited for 'Kabutar' is an execution of similar context in multicultural approaches; Kabutar is a message of communication, unity, diversity and reconciliation between five different countries, and two different continents. I am grateful to independent artists, Vila Brentano, and Commune di Busto Garolfo for their collaboration and support with the display of this show in Italy.”
Curator/Founder, MH Initiatives, Mehreen Hashmi.
On 27th April 2019, First display of Kabutar with showcase of artworks of artists from Italy, Netherlands, Pakistan, and Turkey has taken place at Alliance Francaise de Karachi, along with welcoming Jorieke Rottier (Netherlands), Cristiana De Marchi (Italy) and Cansu Eragin (Turkey). Cansu Eragin did a performance titled 'Glimpse' on the opening day. Participating artists for the exhibition/project are Angela Vinci, Denise Frechet, Christiana de Marchi, Dani Ploeger, Hans Overvliet, Joerike Rottier, Eda Emirdag, Cansu Eragin, Sezen Tonguz, Aqeel Solangi, Farrukh Shahab and Hina Tabassum.
It is said that art and artists have no boundaries but looking at the political scenario of one’s country somehow that also matters to look who’s art to be appreciated and who’s not to be given space at least in your market place. But this art can bring all of the states really closer to each other the way Mehreen Hashmi is working a big round of applause for her contribution and we need more people like her to work through cultural diplomacy.