Indian artists cross borders... and have fun too!

Artist Sameer Mondal is just back fromMauritius, and is already packing for Hong Kong, Sidney and Brisbane. DittoBrinda Chudasama Miller. She had earlier been to Singapore and Malaysia. Talk toany artist these days, and you hear of the lovely time they had at Sri Lanka orBali or Dubai. No, they are not suddenly consumed bywanderlust.They’ve been flying to be part of art camps held indifferent countries. Surely, the art world has never before seen such jetsettingdays. Ask how this change has come about and Yusuf Arakkal smiles. "We are nowgetting money for them; each camp involves lakhs of rupees," hesays.In return for flying them to a foreign locale, offeringfive-star accommodation and sightseeing, the artists give one or two paintingsto the organisers.Till two years ago, art camps meant scenic placeswithin India. "These days, there isn’t much difference in the cost oforganising a camp in Goa or some place abroad. With attractive packages,it’s become easy to take artists abroad," says Vinod Sharma, an artistbased in Delhi, who has organised six camps abroad. He is the man behind theMauritius camp and the upcoming trips to Hong Kong and Australia. Each of themhave different sponsors — some private people and othersgalleries.\"I guess the organisers feel most locales within Indiahave been covered," says Jaideep Mehrotra, who was also at Mauritius recently.Since most artists work in solitude, camps have been always a soughtafterplatform to interact with others from the fraternity and exchangeideas.Many times, the place itself is an attraction, like Maurituswas for Mondal. Atul Dodiya recalls how the artists suggested Sri Lanka as thelocale when Guild Art Gallery was planning a camp.For artists whocan’t go abroad on their own steam, it’s a boon, especially becausethese tours are well organised. “Even if you can buy your own air ticketand travel, going in a group like this has its charm. And there are no hasslesof organising," says Brinda.