Surjit Akre

ARTIST STATEMENT

Art is my patience.I interpret the life of genre peoole in my paintings,
their love, anger,struggle for life, dreams,suffering & all happenings
of life.
I also paint autobiografical paintings.
The main medium which I love is oil on canvas because it is durable
& also can try different texture in this medium.
I also love to do pencil,charcoal,sangina,drawings on paper.
I have developed my own style,which took several years of practice
& experience.
When I see my art I feel that life is so beautiful, complicated & deep
because my painting are the mirror of life.I depict the life as what I feel,
what I see & everypaintng shows different aspect of life.
When people see my art they feel it deeply & says it is true.
Since 1986 after the Postgraduation from the prestigious Academy of Arts,
Repin Institute of paintings,Sculpture,& Architecture Saint.Petersburg,
Russia I do paintings on different topics & series like Mother & Child,
War & Peace,Shringar,Desire,Prakriti,No to Global Terrorism etc.

BIO-DATA-Surjit Akre has been painting for more than 30 years. She was born in Taran Tarn, Punjab, India.She is the first Indian Artist who has
achieved a Post- Graduate Degree in easel painting, from Russia, Academy of
Fine Arts, Repin Institute of Painting, Sculpture & Architecture, Decorated with
the Order of the Red Banner of Labour in St. Petersburg. Surjit Akre has held
over 52 solo painting exhiitions in India, Russia, USA, Canada & has participated
in numerous National & International exhibitions & Artist camps. She works in oil,
acrylic, water colour, pastel, Ink & pencil drawings. Her wotks feature in several
public & private collections in India & abroad. Her works have been auctioned
by International auctioneers. In addition to being a professional artist, Surjit has
extensively lectured at innumerable art colleges & museums, both in India &
abroad on contemporary art forms. Surjit Akre is also an advisor to many
government & private bodies.She is the Founder President of Indo-Russian
Roerich's Art Society affiliated to the Russian Center of Science & Culture,
New Delhi.Since1986 she is organising & curating exhibitions of Indian & Russian Artists
Several of Surjit Akre's works have been donated to charities in India. A professional Artist
to the core, she has served on different juries & won several awards , prizes and honours.
including senior and junior fellowship as outstanding artist from the Govt. of India,
Ministry of H.R.D, Dept. of Culture New Delhi, from 1989-1991 and 1996-1998.
AIFACS President of India's silver plaque and Dr. M.S. Randhawa memorial cash award
in 1990. In 1987 Sahitya Kala Parishad award. In 1985 she was awarded highly commended
at the Annual Post Graduate works exhibition in St.Petersburg , Russia. In 2008 she was
awarded Friendship Medal from the Russian Centre for Scientific and Cultural Cooperation
under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Moscow. In 2008, Silver Medal, for Generosity by the
Institute of Art named after K.A.Savitski, Russia. Honour award for the contribution
Indo-Russian Friendship by the Mayor Penza city, Russia. In 2009 awarded Pushkin Medal
by the President of Russian Federation.

NAME : SURJIT AKRE

DESIGNATION/PROFESSION : PROFESSIONAL ARTIST

DATE & PLACE OF BIRTH : 22nd MARCH 1954 TARAN TARN,
PUNJAB (INDIA)

EDUCATION AND SPECIALIZATION :
1975 - Diploma in Commercial Art, Women’s Polytechnic, New Delhi. 1978-85- Post Graduate Degree in Easel Painting, Faculty of Fine Arts from the Russia, Academy of Arts, Repin Institute of Painting, Sculpture & Architecture, Decorated with the Order of the Red Banner of Labour in St. Petersburg.

PRIZES, AWARDS, HONOURS :
1973 - Women’s Polytechnic Exhibition, New Delhi. 1980- 1st Award State Level composition work in Russian Language at St. Petersburg, Russia. 1983 - 1st Award State Level Russian Language & Literature contest between foreign students studying in Higher Academic Institutions at St. Petersburg, Russia. 1985 - Awarded highly commended at the Annual Post Graduate Works Exhibition, St. Petersburg, Russia. 1987 - Awarded Sahitya Kala Parishad, Youth Festival, New Delhi. 1989-91 Awarded Junior Fellowship as outstanding artist by the Govt. of India, Ministry of H.R.D., Department of Culture, New Delhi. 1990 - AIFACS President of India’s Silver Plaque and Dr. M.S. Randhawa Memorial Cash Award. 1997 -98 Awarded Senior Fellowship as outstanding artist by the Govt. of India, Ministry of H.R.D., Department of Culture, New Delhi. 2008 - Friendship Medal by the Govt. Of Russia .Russian Centre for Scientific & Cultural Cooperation under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for the contriution of Indo-Russian Friendship. 2008 - Silver Medal for Generosity by the Institute of Art named after K.A. Savitski, Penza city ,Russia. 2008 - Honoured award for the contribution Indo-Russian Friendship by the Mayor Penza city .Russia. 2009 - Pushkin Medal by the President of Russian Federation for the contribution of Indo-Russian Friendship.

CAMPS, WORKSHOPS :

NATIONAL:
1989 - Women’s Artist Camp, Garhi Studio organized by L.K.A., New Delhi. 1990 - All India Artists Camp, Dehradun organized by Oil & Natural Gas Commission. 1990 - National Artists Camp, Karna Lake, Karnal organized by Sahitya Kala Parishad, New Delhi. 1991 - All India Artists Camp at Patni Top, Jammu organized by Jammu & Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture & Language. 1992 - All India Painting Workshop, Chandigarh organized by Department of Cultural Affairs Punjab & L.K.A. 1995 - Dialogue II. The lecture on my Works organized by L.K.A., New Delhi. 1995 - Women’s Artist Workshop, Amritsar organized by WCCI (World Council of Curriculum & Instruction) 1999 - Punjab Art Heritage Camp, Jalandhar organized by Apeejay College of Fine Arts. 1999 - Artist Camp at Nehru Park, New Delhi organized by N.D.M.C. 2000 - Gandhi Jayanti Artist Camp, Nehru Park, New Delhi organized by N.D.M.C., New Delhi. 2000 - National Artist Camp, Bhubaneshwar organized by Voluntary Health Association. 2002 - Platinum Jubilee Camp, Delhi organized by AIFACS, New Delhi. 2004 - Amrit Kala Kumbh, organized by AIFACS, New Delhi and Indian Academy of fine Arts, Amritsar. 2005 - National Senior Artist Camp, Delhi organized by AIFACS,New Delhi. 2005 - National Artist Camp, Delhi organized by Anuva Centre for Art, Culture & Wisdom. 2006 - Senior Artist Camp, Delhi organized by AIFACS, New Delhi. 2006 - National Art Workshop, Qutab Minar, Delhi organized by Ramchander Nath International Foundation.
INTERNATIONAL
1979 - Students Camp, Simphropol, Black Sea, Russia 1980 - Students Camp, Alupka, Black Sea, Russia. 1981 - Students Camp, Alupka, Black Sea, Russia. 1982 - Students Camp, Suzdal, Russia organized by Repin Institute. 2002 - International Symphonia, Vladimir, Russia organized by Sunny Square.

MEMBER OF JUDGING COMMITTEE :
1986 - National Exhibition organized by Nehru Bal Smiti. 1988 - National Exhibition 6th Yava Mahotsva organized by Sahitya Kala Parishad, New Delhi. 1997 - Annual Space Art Contest organized by Jawaharlal Nehru Planitorium, Teen Murti Bhawan, New Delhi. 1999 - National School Exhibition organized by Disha. 2000 - Annual Exhibition organized by Kulachi Hansraj Public School, New Delhi. 2000 - State Level Exhibition of NDMC School at Nehru Park organized by NDMC, New Delhi. 2004 - Republic Day Parade Camp, Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports, New Delhi. 2004 - On the Spot Children Painting Competition, Delhi organized by Nishtha. 2007 - Annual Space Art Contest, Delhi organized by Nehru Planitorium. 2007- On the Spot College students poster competition at NSS Yava Bharat Camp to commemorate 150th years of the First war of India’s independence 1857 0rganised by Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports.

SOLO EXHIBITIONS :
1985 - St. Petersburg, Russia sponsored by Friendship House. 1986 - New Delhi, sponsored by Russian Cultural Centre. 1986 - New Delhi, Shridharani Art Gallery, Triveni Kala Sangam.