Multidisciplinary visual artist Ms. Lou Lim waved the Philippine flag high with her talent and virtuosity at the 3rd ASEAN-India Artists’ Camp (AIAC) held in the scenic mountain town of Shillong, Meghalaya State in India’s northeast on 01-07 April 2025.
Ms. Lim was among 21 artists gathering at the city under the auspices of the Artists Camp. The AIAC brought together one artist each from all 10 ASEAN Member States plus Timor Leste. They were joined by ten local Indian artists.
With the theme 'Echoes of Ramayana: Artistic Journeys Across ASEAN and India', AIAC 3.0 was organized by the Indian Ministry of External Affairs in collaboration with art event curator and festival organizer Seher.
The participating artists were Chong Ai Chezer (Singapore), Abilio da Conceicao Silva (Timor Leste), Panich Phupratana (Thailand), Phonesith Yernsensuly (Lao PDR), Mohana Kumara Velu (Malaysia), Lou Lim (Philippines), Nwe Ni Soe (Myanmar), and Ros Norak (Cambodia). The Indian artists were Mrudula Kunatharaju, Mousumi Biswas, Japani Shyam Dhurwey, Kazi Nasir, Prakash Joshi, Aayush, Vinay Kumar, Bappa Chitrakar, Chandan Bez Baruah, and Raphael Warjri.
Born in 1989 and a resident of Binangonan, Rizal, Ms. Lim’s unique approach to visual arts wield painting as a medium to yield evocative sculptural forms, and vice versa. A featured artist in many an art show, and with solo exhibitions under her belt, she has been hailed for her deft use of surface, to create works of profound meaning.
For the AIAC, Ms. Lim came up with the poignant “And There Was Light” (acrylic on canvas, 36” x 48”), an opus built on layers: an overlay portraying calm sunlit skies; and an underlayer (revealed through peeled strips of overlay) depicting “wounds”. It explores the interplay between light and darkness. Before departing for Shillong, Ms. Lim and the participating artists were hosted to an Official Launch ceremony in New Delhi on 29 March. During the reception, Ms. Lim was felicitated by Philippine Ambassador to India Josel F. Ignacio. During the camp proper in Shillong, the artists took part in lectures and demonstrations, workshops, interactions with local artists and students, and worked on their respective paintings in a public setting.
The artists showcased their respective works during the Closing Ceremony in Shillong on 07 April, graced by Minister of State for External Affairs Shri Pabitra Margherita. END
