This year has been a meaningful and memorable year for me as an artist. From hosting an online art workshop on International Women’s Day to taking part in the Manifesto for Accessible Art residency, I have had the opportunity to explore new avenues and use my art to “hopefully” make a positive impact on the world around me. I am grateful to the people who believed in me and continued to be my confidant. I am grateful to those who supported me and offered me guidance and encouragement. One highlight for me was creating the painting “Kharagpur, My Love – A Chapter That’ll Stay Forever” for a former student, which has brought both of us comfort and joy.
Mandala Art for Women’s Day: Honoring the strength of women’s bonds
This year, on International Women’s Day, I had the opportunity to conduct an online art workshop focused on Mandala artwork. The workshop was hosted by Yoga Bharati, a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting health, happiness, and peace through a holistic approach to yoga. Participants were members of Yoga Bharati and included women from various age groups. This art piece created during the workshop depicts the strength of the sun and the calmness of the moon. And the three silhouettes in the center symbolize the bond between three generations of women – a crucial element in building a strong and happy family.
A Heartfelt Art Exhibition: “Art From The Heart” Brings Joy and Success
The Pragati Art group (made up of 28 talented artists from various linguistic backgrounds), hosted an art exhibition called “Art From The Heart” on March 5th and 6th, 2022. As a member of the group, I had the opportunity to participate in the exhibition, which was a huge success despite the uncertainty and challenges presented by the pandemic. The event attracted over 200 attendees and many of the 53 featured art pieces were sold, making it a memorable and positive experience for both the artists and the audience. The exhibition was inaugurated by Radhika Hormusjee and Saad Khan and closed by Vilas Nayak and Shilpa Nag.
Designing Accessible Spaces and Raising Awareness: My Experience with the Manifesto For Accessible Art
This year, I had the opportunity to participate in the Manifesto For Accessible Art (MAAF), a digital artists’ residency for artists with disabilities developed by Deaf performer and creative consultant Jonny Cotsen based in Wales and Siddhant Shah from an arts accessibility consultancy Access For ALL based in India. As part of the MAAF, I created an artwork that was part of a toolkit addressing the complex issues around scouting disabled talent and participated in an outreach program to raise awareness among key stakeholders. The MAAF aims to move away from ableism in the art world and empower artists with disabilities by creating a platform for representation and by designing accessible physical and digital spaces for audiences with disabilities. The goal of the MAAF is to celebrate artists and audiences with disabilities and to make the arts more inclusive.
A Painting for a Dorm Room of a Faraway Home: “Kharagpur, My Love – A Chapter That’ll Stay Forever
This year, I created a painting titled “Kharagpur, My Love – A Chapter That’ll Stay Forever.” It had been a long-time dream of mine to paint the iconic old building of the Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur (IIT Kgp), a technical university in Kharagpur, India (the city I grew up in). I made this painting for a student I had taught art to when I was living in Kharagpur. She was moving to the United States for college and wanted a painting for her dorm room that would remind her of her sweet memories of IIT Kgp and of the time we spent together. I hope that this painting will help her feel connected to home while she is away at college.
I am grateful for the opportunity to create this painting, as it allowed me to connect with a friend, and a former student, and add to our cherished memories. It was a truly meaningful and special experience for me.
Celebrating Cultural Traditions through Art: The “Veerabhadra Mahadev” Painting
I made several abstract paintings this year, including “The Veerabhadra Mahadev,” which captures the essence of the Hindu deity Veerabhadra. The painting uses vibrant colors and bold brushstrokes to bring the figure to life, imbuing it with a sense of power and presence. I focussed on attention to detail in the depiction of the deity’s features, such as the ornate crown and the intricate patterns on the clothing, to add depth and complexity to the piece. I am honored that someone I know and respect requested this to add to their art collection. To me, this is a reminder of India’s rich cultural traditions and how we continue to honor them.
A Colorful Journey of Creativity: An Acrylic Painting Camp for Kids
Earlier this year, I was excited to hold an in-person acrylic painting camp for kids after two years of pandemic restrictions. During the camp, we had a blast learning different easy and simple techniques of acrylic painting and creating four different and colorful paintings in just four classes. It was a wonderful opportunity for kids to explore their creativity and learn new skills in a fun and engaging environment. As an instructor, it was so fulfilling to see their progress and watch their artwork come to life. I truly love working with kids and seeing their creativity shine.
Post this course, I started conducting my art classes in person, in addition to the online classes I had been conducting, for a few batches.
Collaborating with Atypical Advantage for festivals
I have been associated with Atypical Advantage for some time now, and this year, I participated in a joint painting assignment for the occasion of Diwali, organized by Atypical Advantage, Flipkart, and Pidilite.
I made five paintings themed on Diwali – the festival of lights. The subject’s bright lanterns against the night sky, ornately decorated earthen lamps spreading warmth and light, and sparkling fireworks bringing cheer and joy. I completed these five paintings in just five days.
I also created an abstract depiction of Ganesha for Ganesh Chaturthi, a Hindu festival celebrated during Diwali. This painting, which is one of my favorites, depicts the childhood avatar of Ganesha, who is depicted as bright, and full of colors, with a moon on his head, which represents his father Lord Shiva. The painting captures the joy and playfulness of the festival and the deity.
Personalized Art Gifts for Any Occasion
In October, one of my friends, who is the Secretary and Nutrition & Lifestyle Coach at Yogabharati, approached me with a request to prepare a set of small paintings to give as corporate gifts on the occasion of Diwali. I presented her with some of my nature-themed paintings, such as paintings of leaves and birds, as I believe that nature is a symbol of peace. She immediately placed an order for 10 paintings, expressing her appreciation for my belief in the calming effect of nature. It was a joyful experience for me to work on these. I painted leaves of different shapes, sizes, and colors and also from different stages of the lifecycle of a leaf.
I am also happy to have completed all 10 paintings within just one week, I was fully immersed in the creative process and it was easy to focus!
Art Beat at the 10th edition of India Inclusion Summit
This year, the India Inclusion Summit (IIS) returned to its in-person format after a two-year absence for its 10th edition. The event was bigger and better than ever, with a diverse group of people from various backgrounds and abilities in attendance. As an alumnus, I had the opportunity to participate in the events and put faces to the names of people I had been interacting with over the years. It was a fantastic opportunity to hear about their stories and accomplishments.
To mark the 10th edition, the organizers planned something special – “Art Beat.” This was an art-a-thon featuring 10 artists creating live art on a large canvas. “Art Beat” was a great example of diversity and inclusion, as artists with different abilities came together to create a beautiful work of art. The theme of the event was “My Life, My Story,” and each artist created a painting to be added to the larger frame.
My painting, titled “My Safari,” depicted my journey in life and was inspired by Lord Buddha and roses. We completed the painting in just 5-6 hours, and after all eight paintings were added to the frame, the finished product was stunning and exceeded my expectations. It was a truly memorable experience and a testament to the power of diverse perspectives coming together to create something beautiful.
Honoring a Legend: A Portrait of Subramania Bharathi
I recently created a portrait of Subramania Bharathi, a renowned Indian poet, writer, and freedom fighter who fought for India’s independence from British rule. This portrait captures Bharathi’s wisdom, passion, and determination, and I am proud to have created it as a tribute to this inspiring person and his many contributions to Tamil literature and Indian society. I was inspired to create this portrait on the occasion of Bharathi’s 140th birth anniversary, at the request of a friend. Bharathi’s poetry and activism continue to inspire people around the world, and I hope that my portrait will help others to learn more about his life and work. “Achamillai Achamillai” (“Fear not Fear not“) is the tagline for this work – something Bharathi lived by, and has now become an inspiration for me as well.
This was 2022, keeping my hopes high for the next year :)
