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Colours help them in 'soul-searching'

Last Updated 26 May 2014, 15:41 IST

Be it the two horses or Lord Shiva’s Nandi, the portrait of Buddha, image of a danseuse or the deli­neation of a woman in distr­ess – all paintings acquire a distinct brightness due to the deep hues that the budding artistes have used to present their art.

As part of the rece­ntly concluded annual art exhibition of National Institute of Fine Arts (NIFA), 20 budding artists created three original works each, on the theme of ‘Art for Soul’.

“We sit with the students and whichever word comes to there mind first, becomes the theme of our annual show,” says Renu Khera, the show curator adding, “Last year the students thought it was a new beginning for them an thus we chose ‘new beginni­ng’ as the theme.

This year, the students realised that since everybody can connect to their sole, likewise everyone should be able to relate to their artworks and thus we finalised on the theme of ‘Art for Soul.”

The theme evolves differently for each student.

While 11-year old Radhey Patel's soul relates to the concept of love, 40-year old homemaker Jessica Sherwal’s soul resides in her abode and the artist within her draws inspiration from the same.

Radhey’s painting titled ‘Love’ depicts two forlorn ho­r­ses that he initiated painted black against a colourful bac­kdrop but later changed the colour of the horses and filled them in multi-hues.”

The black horses were not going very well with the colourful background,” informs the youngster who has been learning since the age of 7. He makes it clear that he wanted “to make the painting full of unique varieties” and thus let the love-lost horses have eyes full of despair. Quite an imagination!

For Jessica on the other hand, the Kathputlis hanging in her house, gifted to her by a friend, become her inspiration to draw the painting ‘Kathputli’. Though an MBA, art came calling to her years later when she was in Manila, Philippines with her family and she started learning it professionally.

“After coming back to India, I joined NIFA and it has been only nine months since I am learning. But my travelling and my home has inspired me in choosing subjects for my paintings,” says the homemaker for whom the artifacts in her house provide inspiration.

“An antique ladder pla­ced in my home reminded me of the ambitious world and I conceptualised my painting on city life,” she adds.

Though older in years but young in experience, Babita Singh’s work self-portrait is quite impressive.

“I had done textile designing before marriage but after marriage I just remained a housewife for 17 years. One day my friend suggested me to enroll in art classes and I found my calling in my hobby that I had forgotten over years,” she narrates as one appreciates her work which appears as if Nandi is itself lending an ear to her in order to fulfill her wishes. Babita, 42, says, “I used to pray to God everyday to give me the strength to paint what I intended and chose Him as the subject to draw me first work.”

Her wishes seem to have been granted as one looks around the gallery and finds the emotion of happiness depicted in almost every work.

“Since they are young in this field, they are portraying their happiness over their accomplishment, by using bright colours,” says Renu.

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(Published 26 May 2014, 15:40 IST)

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