The Most Avant-Garde South Asian Director Today
By Ayesha K.

Ibrahim Quraishi, world-renowned conceptual artist and director extraordinaire, is launching his non-profit INTOX in New York on June 20th. Quraishi has been focusing on contemporary issues of migration and alienation, re-interpretation of womens' roles in South Asian folktales and the place of Islam today. With his stunning visual performances, a dynamic mix of video installations, live performances by leading artists, and the use of the latest digital technology, Quraishi is fast becoming the most avant-garde South Asian director in theater and installation performances in the world.

Quraishi has presented his multi-media installation performances all over the world, including Munich, Paris, New York, Sarajevo, Tel Aviv, Kyoto, New Delhi, and Tokyo, all to extraordinary critical acclaim and audience appreciation.

In 1998, Quraishi set up his company Compagnie Faim de Siècle in Paris. Realizing that his work was increasingly becoming about resolving cultural differences, he decided to start a non-profit to promote immigrant culture and conflict resolution. The result is the unusual installation performance non-profit called INTOX. Disarmingly bright and quick, Quraishi is undoubtedly one of the most cutting-edge directors amongst South Asian. Born in Pakistan, and now living in Paris and New York, Quraishi has collaborated with artists from all cultures to showcase his unique interpretation of the socio-economic, artistic and cultural fabric of individual communities.

	INTOX Event Website

A winner of prestigious grants such as the National Endowment of Arts Grant (2005), The Rockefeller Fellowship (2000 & 2004), and the Islamic World Arts Initiative (IWAI, 2004) and Arts International award grant for 2001 & 2003, Quraishi is launching his revolutionary non-profit in New York on June 20th in Soho, New York. The event, a multi-media collaborative performance by leading artists in the city, offers an unprecedented visually stunning and intellectually stimulating examination of inter-cultural dialogue.

Installed in the beautiful Sundaram Tagore gallery (run by the grandson of Bangladeshi Nobel Prize winning poet Rabindranath Tagore) in Soho, New York, the event features an hour of performance by some of the most talented and diverse artists around today including: the phenomenally popular DJ Spooky, the Sufi songs of husky voiced Fawzia Afzal-Khan, the breathtaking dance performances of famed choreographers Parul Shah and Arthur Aviles, and the haunting music of jazz composer Vijay Iyer.

Sponsored by Asia Society and EGO Magazine, we invites our readers to come and see the event. EGO readers get a 50% discounted price of $25 [just say you're with EGO when you arrive or reserve a ticket by phone]. Cocktails and hors d'oeuvres will be served.

Date: June 20th, 2005
Time: 7pm to 10pm
Location: Sundaram Tagore Gallery
137 Greene Street corner of Houston St. (Soho) New York, 10012

Don't miss this unique chance to see Ibrahim Quraishi present his ground-breaking work. We'll see you there!