International Gallerie was conceived by one person’s simple, single-minded belief in the rich, diversity of the world’s cultures and the powerful universality of ideas. In an increasingly cynical world, the idea captured the imagination of a core group of people comprising design and print professionals, photographers, writers… and advertisers.

Encouraged by this support, its founder-publisher and editor, Bina Sarkar Ellias, launched the first issue of International Gallerie in July 1997. That issue was an instant success – not in numbers, but in terms of its quality of readers. The inaugural issue and subsequent issues went on to win no less than 9 national and international awards for excellence.

What began as an arts and literary journal that focused on creative excellence worldwide, soon evolved into a socio-cultural forum on global issues –– stringing art, music, theatre, cinema, poetry and travel into a cohesive theme.

Opposing violence, for example, in the third issue. Or believing in a world without divides––­race, caste, ethnic –– in the fourth. The fifth issue was dedicated to the War Child. The sixth to Freedom and Censorship. The seventh issue was dedicated to the much-needed bridging of divides between India and Pakistan. The eighth issue critiqued Beauty–preconceived notions and stereotypes. The ninth issue, an exploration of cultural links between France and India. The tenth, a response to 9/11 & Gujarat , people & places in conflict. The 11th issue is an inquiry. What Mahatma Gandhi means to us today. Is it not time to evoke his teachings of compassion & non-violence? The 12 th issue is a departure: A celebration of Rain. Gallerie's 13 th issue is dedicated to Kashmir. It's conflict of 15 years. The 14 th issue celebrates women. Women who have empowered themselves and made a difference to their own lives and that of the community. The 15 th issue explores multiculturism in Britain while the 16 th issue views the earth from various interesting perspectives. Gallerie's 17 th issue titled, “Two Bengals” traces the shared culture of Bangladesh and West Bengal. The 18 th issue is a celebration of books. The 19 th issue is a study of the contemporary culture of Iran. The 20 th milestone issue ‘Beyond Boundaries', is a discourse on artistic and cultural cross-pollination. The 21st issue is an exploration of contemporary culture in Japan.

The launch of every issue is accompanied by theatre enactments and poetry reading, followed by a discussion pertinent to the issue. What distinguishes Gallerie is the way each issue connects India to the world and, in turn, the world to India. Each section often comprises of two features, each representing an Indian and an international subject or two respective viewpoints.

Gallerie is produced by a very small group of people comprising the editor-designer, a DTP operator, a print and production executive. It presently sustains itself through the editor’s own personal resources, substantial voluntary inputs by professionals in various disciplines and the support of processors and printers who work on a near-cost basis out of their belief in the magazine.

A look at the 21 issues show how Gallerie has evolved into a meaningful forum. Each new issue pleases the sensibilities as much as it challenges and disturbs; celebrates life even as it holds up a mirror to our collective conscience.

In the words of noted art critic, Mel Gooding, who inaugurated the 4th ‘Race’ issue at the Nehru Centre in London on September 6, 1999, “Gallerie draws my attention to what I didn’t know or what I thought I never needed to know... it is positive and passionate.”

At the same event, Gilane Tawadros, Director of the International Institute of Visual Arts, London, remarked how refreshing it was for her to discover Gallerie in a ‘post-everything’ in a world where even idealism was out of fashion.

Some overseas Institutions subscribing to Gallerie:

Freer & Sackler Galleries, Smithsonian Institution, Washington DC, USA

Library of the Congress, Washington, USA

Harvard University, Boston, USA

Bard University, New  York, USA

Boston University, Boston, USA

The Asian Art Museum San Francisco, USA

The Asia Society, New York, USA

The New York Public Library, NY, USA

The Metropolitan Museum, New York, USA

The MOMA, New York, USA

The MOMA, San Francisco, USA

Victoria University, Victoria, Canada

The Tate Gallery, London, UK

The Hayward Gallery, London, UK

The British Library, London, UK

INIVA, The International Institute of Visual Arts London, UK

The Oriental Art Museum, Berlin, Germany

National Heritage Board, Singapore Art Museum, Singapore

Trans Cultural Exchange,  USA

US institutional subscribers reach us through EBSCO.