The fortnight long cultural extravaganza encompasses all genres of both classical and contemporary forms of visual arts, music, dance, theatre, puppetry, poetry, literature, films and exhibitions.
"This is the 9th edition of the Delhi International Arts festival, and DIAF establishes deep and long lasting relationships with people of other countries. I believe that art sensitizes, art humanizes, and art not only makes friendships but makes friendships last a lifetime," Pratibha Prahlad, Founder, DIAF said.
An art exhibition by Bangladeshi artist Naiza Andaleeb Preema that opened here recently is also part of the festival.
Preema's show has on display paintings from two series by the artist- "Staring Women" (2007) and "Objectified" (2012).
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"I do a lot of work on the female body from the perspective of a Muslim Bengali woman. Bangladesh, India and Pakistan are countries where women are suppressed and at the same time they are also very spirited. So I wanted to portray both their suppression and spirit. My series is about women in their extreme forms," she said.
On the contrary, in "Objectified," she focuses on individual parts of the female anatomy, in response to what she perceives as a global attempt to reduce women to "fetishised" body parts and the eventual erosion of their individualities.
Using pastel and jeweled-stone base as the medium, the series focuses on particular parts of a woman's body- "a leg that terminates in a pedicured foot, a breast and a supine lover body with languidly parted legs."
Organised by the Prasiddha Foundation, with the support from the government, the entry to the festival, set to continue till October 31 is free. The Sichuan opera theatre from China featuring actress Shen Tiemei adn with English subtitles is set to close the festival.