Bridging the gap between the artist and the public is one of the focus areas of Studio Artz Kolkata

Titled ‘Nachiketa 2020’, the three day exhibition showcased a spectacle of a myriad of colours executed in tempera, charcoal, pen and ink and oil pastel.

The 100-odd works on display reflected the new trend of gender fluidity along with other themes such as floral, landscape, people and abstracts.

The participants belonged to different walks of life, and included doctors, retired school teachers, singers, regular office goers, IT professionals, HR personnel, restaurateur, housewives and even art graduates. 

The event, held at the ICCR, was inaugurated by eminent artist Samir Aich.

“I think this is a great exhibition. Some of the participants are senior people yet everyone was very serious about their work and in their attiutude towards art," said the veteran artist.

According to him, “The most important thing in our societytoday is that we need to get involved with some kind of creative form, be it poetry, painting or music. And this exhibition is a message to the society that everybody should involve themselves with any kind of art.”

The founders of Studio Artz, Rabin Kumar Mondal, Neerja Nopany and Smita Sonthalia, were also present during the exhibition.

Said Rabin Kumar Mondal, “The exhibition reaches out to the general public and gives them an opportunity to learn to understand and appreciate art and even enhance their living spaces with a piece of affordable art.”

According to Neerja Nopany, who also teaches art and crafts to children at the centre, “The institution seeks not just to curate and bring out the best of art forms but also to educate its visitors.”

Smita Sonthalia said, “The exhibition was started with a mission and vision to foster an understanding of art work.”

(Reporting by Sanya Anand. Images by Avishek Mitra)