~Reflections of Imaginative Worlds To Be Showcased Through the Iconographic Masterpieces of Masters~

Tata Steel rolled out a three days Art-in-Industry Camp at the Centre for Excellence, Jamshedpur, on 11th February, 2012. Mr HM Nerurkar, Managing Director, Tata Steel inaugurated the camp jointly with stalwarts such as Mr Jatin Das, Ms Anjolie Ela Menon, Ms Rini Dhumal, Mr Lalu Prasad Shaw, and the like, with brushstrokes on an empty canvas. The camp will conclude on 13th February, 2012, followed by an exhibition by the student’s of Jamshedpur School of Art.

The concept of Art-in-Industry dates back to 1943 when Tata Steel was one of the prize donors of an exhibition and sale of art in the JJ School of Art, Mumbai, wherein artists were invited to compete for prizes and scholarships. The aim even then was not merely be able to sell the entries or acquire the paintings, but also to bring the talent of lesser known artists to the notice of leading industrialists and patrons of art.

This art camp has a special significance for Tata Steel as on February 16th, 2012, the camp celebrates the ‘hundred year saga of steel-making’ at the Company. Hundred years ago, on this day the first ingot of steel rolled out of the Steel Works at Sakchi.

The main objective of organizing this art camp is to provide the iconoclastic artists a platform to reach out to general masses and to look after the well-being so that an artist’s creativity is unfettered to grow and mature, as well as to create a support system for talent to bloom under Tata Steel’s patronage.

While reminiscing about his earlier visits to Jamshedpur, Mr Jatin Das said, “It is almost after a span of fifty years that I got an opportunity to visit Jamshedpur owing to this art camp organized by Tata Steel. Though the objective of this camp is to provide a learning experience to the young students, the time span of the camp can be extended to provide the artists some more time to work upon their paintings.”

Ms Anjolie Ela Menon shared some of her earlier experiences with the Tata House and said, “One of my paintings was owned by Mr JRD Tata in his personal collection. Mr Russi Mody had also acquired some of my paintings and it’s still stalled there at the Centre for Excellence.”

While addressing the gathering, Mr HM Nerurkar, Managing Director, Tata Steel said, “I thank both, the artists and the organizers of this event, for the effort they have made to make the programme a success. The idea of being able to witness a whole galaxy of stars and their created geniuses is enthralling.” He also congratulated Mr Jatin Das for having received the Padma Bhushan and thanked Mrs Menon for sharing her memories with the Tata House.

The inauguration ceremony was presented by Ms Jenny Shah, Head, Centre for Excellence & Public Relations, Tata Steel and concluded with a vote of thanks proposed by Mr Farzan R Herjee, Chief, Corporate Relations, Tata Steel.

Similar to last year, the students of the city’s oldest art institution, the Jamshedpur School of Art JSA) will get a rare opportunity to showcase their work at a special JSA Corner during the exhibition organized on 14th February, 2012, at the camp venue of canvases completed at the camp. The aim of this programme is to provide a learning experience for the students to see, understand and imbibe painting techniques of a plethora of senior artists at a single gathering.

The attempt is to make the art camp inclusive with the participation of associated companies, Government officials, industrialists and businessmen, members of the Citizens Council and school principals to visit the camp and enjoy watching the artists at work.

The artists hail from different parts of the country and will consciously choose to articulate their identities and affiliations in their individual styles, techniques and art forms. The concluding day of the camp will witness magical canvases displaying ingenuity and insights by participating artists.

About Tata Steel:
Established in 1907 as Asia's first integrated private sector steel company, Tata Steel Group is amongst the leading steel manufacturers in the world with an annual crude steel capacity of over 27 million tonnes per annum (mtpa). It is now the world's second-most geographically-diversified steel producer, with operations in 26 countries and a commercial presence in over 50 countries. The Tata Steel Group, with a turnover of US$ 26.64 billion in FY '11, has over 81,000 employees across five continents and is a Fortune 500 company. The Group’s vision is to be the world’s steel industry benchmark in “Value Creation” and “Corporate Citizenship” through the excellence of its people, its innovative approach and overall conduct. Underpinning this vision is a performance culture committed to aspiration targets, safety and social responsibility, continuous improvement, openness and transparency. In 2008, Tata Steel India became the first integrated steel plant in the world, outside Japan, to be awarded the Deming Application Prize 2008 for excellence in Total Quality Management.

About Centre for Excellence:
Centre for Excellence, an architectural wonder, stands as a testimony to the Tata tradition and its way of life and, captures over a hundred years of the values, ethos and heritage that have transformed the Tata group into a corporate conglomerate of the highest order. The Centre gives stakeholders a holistic view of the pioneering efforts of our founders, the planners and technocrats of yesteryears who shaped the destiny of India and launched her on the path to industrialisation. It helps further the Tata legacy while highlighting Tata Steel's business excellence. Centre’s vast infrastructure, facilities and resources have been used to improve the lives of many people. Through various activities and camps organized for students, youngsters and artists, Centre for Excellence helps Tata Steel in its commitment to serve the needs and interests of the wider community.