Bangalore, 4th March 2022

Sandeep & Gitanjali Maini Foundation & AGP World, in association with Being Human – The Salman Khan Foundation, gallery g and Artiere Gallery, invite you to a solo show of artworks by artist and superstar Salman Khan. Titled ‘Motherhood – An Artistic Ode to Mother Teresa’, this is Salman’s first-ever solo show in a commercial gallery. Three paintings, including two new large-size works created by the artist will be on display at Bengaluru’s gallery g from 11th to 20th March 2022.

Adopting a unique hybrid format of display, Salman Khan’s artworks will first go live online on Google Arts & Culture (https://artsandculture.google.com) on 4th March 2022. Two of his paintings, titled ‘Still In Hope of Compassion’and ‘Begging for Peace’ will be on display on the GAC digital platform. Salman’s work was first showcased on Google Arts & Culture in February 2021 when Sandeep & Gitanjali Maini Foundation (SGMF) launched their institution’s digital presence on this globally acclaimed platform. View the collection here (https://artsandculture.google.com/partner/the-sandeep-gitanjali-maini-foundation)

“In 2021, only one painting by Salman Khan was on display on GAC. This year we have added two more paintings by him, each being extremely arresting and unique,” explains Gitanjali Maini, Founder of Sandeep & Gitanjali Maini Foundation. “We have a great relationship with AGP World in Mumbai and were delighted when they approached us to help find a global platform to display Salman Khan’s art. Working with AGP World and through them with Salman Khan, has been one of the biggest projects that our Foundation has undertaken.”

Considering the actor’s keen interest in his work and enthusiasm to paint as much as possible, Bengaluru’s gallery g (also owned by Gitanjali Maini) offered to physically display Salman Khan’s works.

Salman describes his new works that will be on display:

Still In Hope of Compassion: “There are wars. There is loss. There are pandemics to deal with. But there is also HOPE. And Mother Teresa tells us no matter what the odds, HOPE will always win.”

Begging for Peace: “Peace is not just an absence of conflict. Peace is the humility of two folded hands. The acknowledgment of our humanity. And the purpose of our life.”

A huge admirer of Mother Teresa, Salman appears to have dedicated much of his creative craft to her and the humanitarian work she has done. “I like to say it with my films. With the stories that I tell. With the songs that I sing. With the dialogues that I deliver. And sometimes, I like saying it with colour and a blank canvas,” says Salman. While the actor most definitely packs a punch with his cinematic roles, his art is equally impactful.

“Considering the nature of Salman Khan’s art and keeping in mind the present scenario of war and unrest in the world, this is one of the most appropriate times to show works thematically based around ‘Peace’. The artist has thoughtfully projected his inner feelings through Mother Teresa and we at gallery g approached Dr. Girija Kaimal from Philadelphia to view the artist’s works and comment on them. Given Dr. Kaimal’s extensive experience in working with war veterans using art as therapy, these works become even more relevant during these testing times given what we are seeing around us presently,” explains Gitanjali Maini.

Dr. Girija Kaimal is an Associate Professor in the PhD Program in Creative Arts Therapies at the Drexel University College of Nursing and Health Professions and Assistant Dean for Special Research Initiatives. In her Health, Arts, Learning and Evaluation (HALE) research lab, she examines physiological and psychological outcomes of creative visual self-expression. Dr. Kaimal currently leads studies examining arts-based approaches to health among cancer caregivers, active-duty military service members and veterans. While she does not know Salman Khan personally, nor has she interacted with the artist, her interpretations of his work are extremely apt and relevant, considering only the aspect of visual interpretation.

Salman chooses to keep his art close to his heart and is not keen to sell his works. Extremely private about his painting and his subjects, Salman gets very creative at times, adopting unconventional methods to express himself on canvas.

He primarily works with canvas, acrylic and oil paints, as well as charcoal and ink. Most of his paintings are large, done on canvas or board measuring five feet or more in height. He has also been known to use accessories like chains, wood chips and plastic waste and other material to embellish and enhance his paintings. In this series of work on display, the artist has used paint directly from the tube to create Still in Hope of Compassion.

While such techniques are often considered unconventional by critics, the finished product created by Salman Khan remains extremely arresting and often leaves the viewer thinking deeply.

AGP World, Mumbai, an events and art platform that supports artists from all over the world, has been representing Salman Khan’s art for several years now. Ashvin Gidwani of AGP World says, “Being born in India, a country so rich in arts and culture, I feel it’s my privilege and responsibility to showcase the treasures that we have. Salman Khan is a Neo-expressionist artist whose work inspires & motivates the viewers. His creations are reshaping the contemporary landscape and they strike a chord with one’s imagination, enticing them to look at the world through a sanguine lens.” Salman Khan’s work can be viewed on Google Arts & Culture in an exhibit titled “Salman Khan: Showcasing the ‘Mother’ Through Art”. His works will be on display at gallery g, 38 Maini Sadan, 7th Cross Lavelle Road, Bengaluru 560001 from 11th to 20th March 2022.

Link to the online exhibit of Salman Khan’s work on Google Arts & Culture –
ttps://artsandculture.google.com/story/swXhZl0n8PhUAQ

About Sandeep & Gitanjali Maini Foundation

Established alongside gallery g to support its non-commercial activities, and to carry out and build on the Maini Group’s various art and culture projects, Sandeep & Gitanjali Maini Foundation embraced a much wider scope in recent years. Gitanjali Maini’s initiatives at gallery g extensively promoted art, and artists, at various levels – be it individually or at Biennales – and it’s a commitment that Sandeep Maini shares, as reflected in the Maini Group’s art, culture and welfare programmes.

About Being Human – The Salman Khan Foundation

 The ‘Being Human – The Salman Khan Foundation’, was started by Salman Khan with his commitment to do more. The Foundation is a charitable trust devoted to empower the underprivileged by shaping their lives through education and saving lives with its healthcare initiatives.

About Google Arts & Culture Google Arts & Culture puts the collections of more than 2000 museums at your fingertips. It’s an immersive way to explore art, history and the wonders of the world, from Van Gogh’s bedroom paintings to the women’s rights movement and the Taj Mahal. The Google Arts & Culture app is free and available online for iOS and Android. Our team has been an innovation partner for cultural institutions since 2011. We develop technologies that help preserve and share culture and allow curators to create engaging exhibitions online and offline, inside museums. Read about our latest projects on the Google Keyword blog.

About AGP World

AGP World is synonymous with world-class Theatre, high-end designer Experiences, Talent Management, and curated Art events with a network across 17 cities in India and 12 countries globally. AGP world has a keen understanding of markets and the ability to customise content to suit the sensibilities of varied cultures, which has facilitated Indian arts, culture & entertainment to be enjoyed by global audiences.

About Artiere
Artiere is a house that manages artists and helps them showcase their works in India and across boundaries. We participate in international fairs which give exposure and creates a market for them at a global level.

About gallery g

gallery g is a space where artists can innovate, find more inclusiveness and get more prolific with their work. The gallery attempts to showcase art that appeals to everyone, and even challenges those who don’t have an eye for it. In the twenty years since inception, gallery g has grown by leaps and bounds from showcasing and stocking work of well-known artists, to building a platform for up-and-coming artists to display their works, mentoring promising talent, furthering their education, sale of their works, besides curating art for worthy spaces.

gallery g is committed to making high-quality art an accessible and affordable lifestyle choice in Bangalore since 2003, gallery g has an extensive collection of diverse art works from Modern and Contemporary Indian artists, from up-and-coming creators to pioneers like Raja Ravi Varma, MF Hussain, SH Raza, FN Souza and many others.