Young artists showcase reality

Never underestimate student power. Walking around the art display of the first graduating batch of Stella Maris’ Bachelors of Visual arts was a rather inspiring 15 minutes.   Titled Re-evaluating Realities, one first glimpses at a mannequin bandaged entirely in gauze with a hospital drip attached at Lalit Kala Akademi, where the expo is on. On a closer look, beneath the gauze is a smattering of advertisement stickers – more specifically of brands that make false claims on health benefits. Just a small, albeit graphic sampling of the ‘ad mockery’ series, reflecting a world of fairness promises and deodorants that claim to attract multiple mates. The artists’ professor Dr Razia Tony, who was present at the inauguration on Monday, says, “The eight students introduced the faculty to their concepts months in advance with something basic like a PowerPoint presentation.” She adds, “It was very important that they researched the subject before any creation could begin.” For Saranya M K, it took 30 days of interacting with the transgender community to start work on her canvases. The 23-year-old reveals with a shy smile, “I was a little scared at first, but after that it became quite normal for me.” And the experience reflects directly in her paintings, titled ‘Consider them, Reconsider them’.An impressive display was the ‘Cast of the soul’ series of seven sculptures, inspired by the seven chakras of the body. Each one portrayed a different meditative mould, cast in fact, from the face and body of the artist herself! Chief guest R B Bhaskaran, eminent artist and former chairman of the National Lalit Kala Akademi, was visibly impressed by the showcase of talent at the exhibition. “I am surprised at the high quality of these student works,” he stated and added, “each piece  of art has a character of its own.” Indeed – from a sculpture in meditation, the shift was to a pile of coconuts! A large question mark on the floor, right beside a few traditional coconut scrapers read ‘Change’. Though it is something inevitable and happens every day, who knew that it could be said with coconuts?The art expo is on till April 22.