Overview

The American University Museum is situated atop Embassy Row in our Nation’s Capital. Not coincidentally, we have made international contemporary art a primary focus of our programming. It is exciting and gratifying when an artist from another country brings work that is relevant to 21^st century critical concerns, as expressed by arts writers and supported by curators and collectors. But even better is when that artwork also embodies the history, ideas, beliefs, and values of the culture that, in a very real sense, produced the artist. Better still is when, on top of it all, these works are almost excruciatingly beautiful.

On behalf of the students, faculty, alumni and friends of American University, I welcome the extraordinary art of V. Ramesh to Washington, D.C. When I walked into the Threshold Art Gallery in New Delhi three years ago, I knew that V. Ramesh was the artist I wanted to bring back and share with our community. I want to thank Tunty Chauhan and the Threshold Art Gallery, and the Indian Council for Cultural Relations, for making this exhibition possible.

Jack Rasmussen

Director and Curator

American University Museum at the Katzen Arts Center