Inspiring the young mind

`PRERNA' means inspiration and that is what Geetha Ananthakrishnan has proved to be to the 50-odd children she is teaching to draw and paint at her institution Prerna. Having earlier worked in a school she has learnt how to handle children; she gives personal, affectionate attention to everyone of her students. But it is only guidance, as she never attempts to draw or correct with her own hand what anyone of them has drawn.

An exhibition of the creations by children, aged between six and 14, is on at the Lalit Kala Akademi till June 23, 11 a.m. - 7 p.m.

Every young artist has shown two works - one still life and one composition. The theme for the show is `The Window'. With some helpful suggestions from her, the children have used their imagination in creating scenes within the house, a bus or a train, or even a mason fixing a window in a building.

A child has even thought of the eyes as the window to the world! Depending on the age and understanding of the child the composition and the arrangement of the various elements within the space differ.

Perhaps the human forms are not perfect, sometimes appearing rather stiff, but that is the charm - how the innocent mind has perceived some aspects of life.

One girl has, for instance, painted the exterior of a multi- storeyed building at night with the lights inside seen through the windows. They have used both water colour and poster colour and the artists in their early teens have also attempted oils.

There are also a handful of grown up students with Geetha, including a Japanese lady. Their paintings naturally reveal maturity in subjects and handling and also in the medium.

The still-life works by almost everyone is very good indeed, be it in pastels, graphite or water colour.

Geetha has allowed them to choose the medium, the objects they want to paint and even to arrange them, only offering suggestions.

It is surprising that at the age of eight and nine they have perceived the tints and shades so well, besides the shapes. Perspective plays an important role in depicting still life and there too the youngsters have proved that they are up to the task.

On June 23 artist A. V. Ilango will conduct a workshop on creative painting.

LAKSHMI VENKATRAMAN

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