New Delhi, Sep 12 (PTI) Inspired by the Indian concept of ‘Sangam’ — meeting of rivers — artists from various member countries of BRICS have come together to create a large-scale thematic mural at the Summit venue, symbolising friendship and a confluence of cultures.
India is hosting the BRICS Summit on September 12 and 13 at the Bharat Mandapam as the chair of the influential grouping.
The vibrant canvas, born out of the “BRICS Friendship Mural project”, is displayed on a wall inside the main Bharat Mandapam building, which houses the Summit Room, a senior official of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR), the cultural arm of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), told PTI.
It was created under the theme “Sangam: Confluence of Cultures” and brings together the diverse artistic traditions of the BRICS member countries in a single collaborative public artwork.
Conceived as a people-centric outreach initiative, it reflects India’s BRICS Chairship theme of ‘Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability’ and highlights the importance of cultural and people-to-people exchanges as one of the foundational pillars of BRICS, the official said.
The art project has been helmed by the ICCR.
The wide colourful mural depicts the Summit logo at the centre, crowned by the image of the iconic Hawa Mahal of Jaipur in Rajasthan, flanked by a pair of elephants, representing India.
The canvas also portrays nature, flora and fauna, and cultural heritage of various other BRICS member countries.
Elements of a Russian artwork, and landmarks depicting other countries, including Brazil, are also part of this art project.
“The collaborative artwork was created from August 29 to September 8 in New Delhi ahead of the 18th BRICS Summit,” according to a note shared by the ICCR official, which added that the project saw “participation of 11 artists from India and fellow BRICS member countries”.
Working together on site over eleven days, the artists combined their distinct visual traditions, motifs and artistic expressions into a unified composition that “symbolises friendship, mutual respect and shared aspirations” among the BRICS countries, the note added.
BRICS, comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, expanded in 2024 to include Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, the UAE and Saudi Arabia, with Indonesia joining in 2025.
Belarus, Bolivia, Kazakhstan, Cuba, Malaysia, Nigeria, Thailand, Uganda, Uzbekistan and Vietnam became BRICS partner countries last year.
The MEA described the mural project as a celebration of friendship and unity in diversity.
“Take a look at Sangam: A Confluence of Cultures; a large-scale collaborative public art project created by artists from 9 countries. Inspired by the Indian concept of Sangam, where rivers from different origins meet and flow together, the artwork brings together artists and cultures from across BRICS in a celebration of friendship and unity in diversity,” MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said.
“Inspired by India’s BRICS Chairship 2026 theme, the artwork reflects resilience, innovation, cooperation and sustainability. #BRICS2026 #BRICSIndia2026 #IndiaBRICSChairship Indian Council For Cultural Relations,” he posted on X on Friday.
The MEA earlier said that India’s BRICS chairship is guided by the theme ‘Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability’, reflecting Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of a people-centric approach rooted in the spirit of ‘Humanity First’.
Over the years, BRICS has steadily evolved into a comprehensive framework for cooperation across the three foundational pillars of political and security, economy and finance, cultural and people-to-people exchanges.
It emerged as an influential grouping as it brings together 11 major emerging economies of the world, representing around 49.5 per cent of the global population, around 40 per cent of the global GDP and around 26 per cent of the global trade.
The year 2026 also marks a milestone as BRICS completes 20 years since its establishment.
Besides, an ensemble of more than 100 artistes drawn largely from India as well as other member countries of BRICS is set to perform at a gala dinner that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will host for various world leaders on the opening day of the Summit at the Bharat Mandapam.
“A large group of artistes — classical dancers and musicians, largely from India — as well as musicians from various other member countries of BRICS, will showcase ‘BRICS Symphony’ during the gala dinner on September 12 night,” a person familiar with the matter told PTI earlier. PTI KND MNK MNK
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