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Painting differently
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Participating in the exhibition at the Russian Cultural Centre, Balakrishnan in wheelchair is very happy that his cut-out enamel and oil paintings sold well.
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FRANKLY, THE artists were on exhibition — not so much their art. So let's talk about them, the differently abled. They are determined, focused, sure. But they are also the most practical.
Sheela, for instance. This veteran artist doesn't have arms, so she uses her foot to paint her favourite theme: ``Nature women''.
She and about 30 other handicapped persons had come from all over India for `Kala Kriti', an art exhibition by physically challenged artists of India organised by Mukti.
Participating in the exhibition at the Russian Cultural Centre, Balakrishnan in wheelchair is very happy that his cut-out enamel and oil paintings sold well. ``It's given me so much faith.'' This is his first exhibition of any kind, and the thrill is evident.
Most paintings are just so, but the walls have some great colours. For Sakthi Rani, a polio victim, it's not her first outing. She has won a good number of awards, is doing her Masters in Fine Arts and wants to specialise in web-designing. She's a pro and her work reflects that well. Kamkar Datta, another polio victim and mouth artist, is so fond of his innovative Bharatanatyam impressions, which he says has ``impressed even the professionals''. He loves his canvas, so picks up the waste bits for more striking innovations. He's an economics lecturer and paints on the side. Literally.
Raj's paintings are as brilliant. Should be. This self- taught artist is a drawing master and has the pro touch. Ditto Mahesha, a hearing impaired artist with a Bachelors in Fine Arts. He's focused so much on his frames that the rates really shoot up the bracket. His speciality: Tanjore paintings.
Saravanan from Madurai is a self-taught artist who does his own frames. He's as proud of them as of his paintings. ``I use water colours but get an oil effect. That's my speciality.''
Give them their share of the artists' ego, but they know how to appreciate good work. Datta likes the work of Solomon, a polio victim, painter and cartoonist. ``His paintings are powerful, he wants to say something.''
Rajesh, Jayavelu, Bhagya and a host of disabled children were among others sharing wall space. Quite happy to have sold their works, and basking in the media attention. The exhibition had an add-on: a painting competition for differently-abled children from Chennai, which had wits on overdrive. The first prize in the 9-12 age category went to 10-year-old Satish for his painting depicting panthers behind cages, advising the animals in Vandalur Zoo to go back to the forests. ``You are not safe here,'' it said.
Whom was he really talking about?
By Feroze Ahmed
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Life
Bangalore
Chennai
Coimbatore
Delhi
Hyderabad
Kochi
Madurai
Thiruvananthapuram
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