Nek Chand News


	Grout magazine features Nek Chand's Rock Garden Posted: Tuesday, May 14, 2013 Nek Chand and the Rock Garden are featured in the latest edition of Grout. The article by John Maizels of *Raw Vision* and the Nek Chand Foundation, gives Nek Chand's history, describes the Rock Garden, provides information on the work of the Foundation and its volunteers, and includes many fine photographs. Grout is published by the British Association of Modern Mosaic. Download the PDF here
	Future Volunteer Trips Posted: Tuesday, April 23, 2013 Following a successful visit to the Rock Garden by Nek Chand Foundation volunteers in February and March 2013, two more volunteer group visits are planned. The next month-long stay will be November 2nd to November 30th 2013. A further four-week group visit is planned for February 22nd to March 22nd 2014. Places are limited so please apply soon using the volunteer application form available through this website. The spring 2013 visit was highly successful with volunteers carrying out important work on unfinished mosaics and on archiving the vast amount of material in Nek Chand’s office. Much remains to be done on these and other tasks, with some volunteers noting worrying neglect in several areas of the Rock Garden. Read Jody Palzer's report in the Volunteer/ Volunteer Report section of this website.
	Found in Ludhiana: Heavenly Home for Nek Chand Sculptures at Hindu Temple Posted: Tuesday, July 3, 2012 Members of the Nek Chand Foundation yesterday visited around twenty Nek Chand sculptures in good condition and in a delightful setting at the Sri Geeta Mandir temple, Ludhiana, Punjab. ‘This is a complete and heartening contrast to our earlier trip to Ludhiana,’ said Japan-based volunteer, John Francis Cross, referring to the 2nd March investigation by three NCF members at the Punjab Agricultural University. Most of the statues are placed in flower beds surrounding a well kept lawn at the centre of the temple complex and many incorporate growing plants in baskets they carry by hand or head. Another holds a lantern that is lit at night. The concrete and tile creations are gifts over the past decade or so from Rock Garden director Nek Chand to his friend and temple supporter, Ashni Basain. The Sri Geeta Mandir Hindu temple, built in 1992, is located in the Vikas Nagar area of Ludhiana, Punjab’s largest metropolis, 100 km west of Chandigarh. ‘It’s such a beautiful, peaceful place’ enthused US-based artist and NCF volunteer Gail Trunick. ‘Definitely worth a visit.’ ‘We were made to feel so welcome,’ Canadian NCF volunteer Stephanie Aitken said of the reception by temple staff and dignitaries. Back at the Rock Garden, Nek Chand said, ‘I always wanted to visit but I did not know the condition of the statues. Now that I have heard your good report I certainly will go.' See Photo Album for pictures .
	Lost in Ludhiana: Nek Chand Works Disappear From University Campus Posted: Friday, March 2, 2012 On a recent investigative visit to Ludhiana, members of the Nek Chand Foundation from the UK and India were shocked to find all Nek Chand statues had vanished from a small rock garden on the campus of Punjab Agricultural University. Around twenty to thirty statues and shaped rocks were once installed in the Nek Chand-landscaped area that is a popular meeting place for University staff and students. ‘Not a single sculpture remains’ said UK university academic and Nek Chand Foundation volunteer, John Cross. ‘We were contemplating setting up a program to train PAU students to repair the statues, or even removing them for restoration to the Rock Garden, Chandigarh, but the situation is worse than we anticipated’ said Tracey Shough, a France-based UK artist, currently in India with the Nek Chand Foundation. The garden and statues were a gift from Mr Nek Chand to late PAU Chancellor Dr. M S Randhawa. Local sources blamed vandalism and deliberate removal for the loss. ‘It is very sad,’ said Mr Nek Chand, 87, creator and director of the internationally renowned Rock Garden, Chandigarh on hearing the news. ‘We will never give them any more statues.’ Chandigarh Nek Chand Foundation Officer Shifa Mahajan, said ‘If only we Indians were more appreciative of the value of Nek Chand’s work then this kind of neglect and damage would not occur.’
	Tony Rajer Memorial at Nek Chand's Rock Garden Posted: Saturday, February 25, 2012 In a moving ceremony at the Rock Garden in Chandigarh respects were paid to Tony Rajer who for over a decade had been closely involved with the conservation and development of the world's largest visionary environment. Speakers included Rajpal Singh of the Punjab Arts Council, John Maizels from Raw Vision and Tony's step daughter Sarah Davitt. The final address was given by Nek Chand who expressed his sorrow at losing his 'brother' and who had arranged for a stone to be carved with Tony's likeness which will be permanently installed at the Rock Garden. This ceremony was held on February 25, Rajer's birthday, and was held at the same time as a similar event in Green Bay, Wisconsin. There will be a dedication ceremony by the great waterfall in the Rock Garden in February 2013 where the memorial will be placed. Tony Rajer had also been in charge of running the international volunteer programme which had made such a positive difference at the Rock Garden. Volunteers from around the world have been involved in repairing sculptures, cleaning rubbish and graffiti and working on the world's biggest mosaic programme. This activity will still continue and potential volunteers, who will live at the Rock Garden for one month, are now asked to contact us here.