Tinky Mathew is the co-founder of Pepper House, a 400-year-old spice warehouse in Fort Cochin that she transformed into a vibrant café, design shop, and open gallery spaces. Although a Biomedical Engineer by education, Tinky’s true passion lies in design and fashion.
In 2012, along with her partner, she restored the historic warehouse to host the first edition of the Kochi Muziris Biennale and seized the opportunity to curate a design-focused retail shop for the event. This serendipitous experience led her to open the Pepper House Design Shop in January 2015. With this venture, Tinky realized her vision of discovering, curating, and showcasing the incredible talent of independent creators and designers from across the country, presenting them to a discerning audience.
Aparajita Jain is a leading figure in the Indian contemporary art world, known for her efforts in promoting Indian art on the global stage. In 2005, she founded Seven Art Limited, a gallery dedicated to showcasing innovative Indian artists, such as Asim Waqif and Aakash Nihalani. The gallery played a pivotal role in placing Indian contemporary art in the international arena, notably hosting the first Indian contemporary art exhibition at the Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) in Shanghai and facilitating Indian participation in the Lisbon Biennale.
Jain is currently the co-founder of Nature Morte, one of Delhi’s most avant-garde art spaces, which has become renowned for showcasing leading contemporary Indian artists like Subodh Gupta, Jitish Kallat, and Anita Dube. Her influence extends beyond the commercial art scene into philanthropy. She established the Saat Saath Arts Foundation (SSAF), a nonprofit aimed at fostering international art exchanges. One of SSAF’s landmark projects is the creation of India’s first permanent international art space at Nahargarh Fort in collaboration with the Rajasthan government.
Aparajita Jain’s contributions have earned her recognition as one of the 50 icons of Indian art by *Platform* magazine. She is also actively involved in global business leadership circles as a board member of the Delhi Chapter of YPO (Young Presidents’ Organization) and is a founding member of the Harvard South Asia Institute Arts Program. Her vision continues to shape the future of contemporary art in India and abroad.
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Dr. Susan Lim is a pioneering surgeon, scientist, and creative visionary with a multifaceted career that spans medical breakthroughs and the arts. Notably, she performed Singapore’s first successful cadaveric liver transplant, marking a milestone in the country’s medical history. Her expertise in robotic surgery and transplantation, honed through studies under world-renowned surgeons like Sir Roy Calne and Professor Thomas Starzl, has earned her international recognition in the medical field. She has also delivered impactful talks on organ replacement, including a TED Talk exploring the future of cell transplantation.
Beyond her medical achievements, Dr. Lim has expanded into the arts, co-creating and writing the musical *ALAN* and two orchestral pieces: *Lim Fantasy of Companionship for Piano and Orchestra* and *Lim Cosmic Rhapsody*, both recorded with the prestigious London Symphony Orchestra. These works explore the intersections of artificial intelligence, robotics, and human emotion, reflecting her forward-thinking approach to science and art. Dr. Lim continues to push boundaries in both fields, earning recognition at global forums like the World Economic Forum and various international film and music festivals.
Her work epitomizes a unique blend of scientific rigor and artistic creativity, reflecting her commitment to innovation and the pursuit of knowledge across multiple disciplines.
Gazal Dhaliwal is a prominent Indian screenwriter and transgender activist with a notable presence in Bollywood. After completing her B.Tech in Chemical Engineering from the Malaviya National Institute of Technology, Jaipur, she initially worked as a software engineer at Infosys Technologies. In pursuit of her passion for cinema, she moved to Mumbai in 2005, where she studied filmmaking at the Xavier Institute of Communications and began her career in the film industry.
Dhaliwal has worked with esteemed filmmakers like Govind Nihalani and has written for several acclaimed films, including Wazir, Lipstick Under My Burkha, Qarib Qarib Singlle, and Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga. Her work often explores complex themes around gender and social identities, bringing nuanced characters and stories to the forefront of Indian cinema.
Recently, Dhaliwal has been in the news for her advocacy for proper recognition and rights for screenwriters in the industry. Beyond her film career, Dhaliwal is an advocate for transgender rights and has participated in international programs like the International Visitor Leadership Program on Transgender Rights in the USA. She continues to inspire many through her creative work and her advocacy for social change.
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Vasundhara Das is a versatile artist–a singer, songwriter, composer, and actress. With a rich career in the Indian film industry, she has starred in several films across various languages, including Hindi, Tamil, and Kannada. As a playback singer, Vasundhara has lent her voice to numerous Bollywood and South Indian film songs, enchanting audiences with her melodious vocals, created original soundtracks for films, and collaborated on diverse music projects, continually pushing the boundaries of her craft.
Vasundhara is also a trained drum circle facilitator, having honed her skills under the guidance of Arthur Hull. She co-founded Drumjam, a pioneering company that brings the joy of group drumming to individuals and communities. Through Drumjam’s community and children’s programs, she fosters a sense of rhythm and unity among participants, creating memorable musical experiences.
In addition to her work with Drumjam, Vasundhara is a dynamic stage performer. With her world music band, Arya, she has captivated audiences at various global events, earning acclaim as one of India’s most popular performing artists. Her performances blend traditional and contemporary elements, showcasing her versatility and passion for music.
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