The Piano at Savera, serving up multicuisine buffets for the palate of guests, turned into a semi art gallery, a palette if you please, for a band of 20 spirited artists through April. Advaith and Zephy at 10, the youngest, and the senior-most Subhashri at 35.
At the opening on April 2, while the 28 rich-in-colour-and-composition exhibits on the walls each had a story or two to tell the world, its makers were milling around with family and friends, smiling and taking pictures or just sitting back taking in the scene. High tea was served, and was a welcome distraction from the main show. I spotted Savera Managing Director Nina Reddy checking in on the event and mingling with the guests.
When I asked Mala Chinnappa, art educator and part of the organising team, about the artists, she told me: ‘‘Noel (17) just enjoys the process. Be it clay, paint or oil pastels, it is mainly a sensory seeking activity for him. So the sight, smell, touch and feel is what he’s enjoying. Striking works are a by-product. If it is paints, he gets really excited (fluid mediums do have that effect) and goes into overdrive, as his fast, bold strokes will testify.
‘‘Madhav (22) is very graphic in his drawing and uses very strong assured lines. His works are unique because of the way he sees things, his perspective is very atypical.
‘‘Varun (24) is calm, unflappable. He enjoys circular motion with pastels or paints. Even watching him go at it can be meditative…
‘‘Little Zephy’s (10) head is filled with all the characters she has befriended on TV and her books. So there will be pretty princesses, puppies, kitties, many flowers, the sun, moon and stars. It’s a magical, happy art world that gets portrayed.’’ To sum up, the artists are ‘raw, honest and vibrant with no filter because they are not creating for ‘others’.’ They are wards of ABWA (A Brush with Art), a group of seven art facilitators working with the Neuro-diverse.
ABWA has been working in ‘The Cottage’ in Cholamandal Artists’ Village since 2016 and at ‘Saranalayam’ in Besant Nagar since 2022. Jyotsna Srinivasan works online from Bangalore.
‘‘As facilitators, our main job is to observe and learn about each child. Which medium/technique is their strength…their predilection. We should not get in the way of their exploration or expression. We need to be enablers. Sometimes they might be quite indifferent or ‘stuck’ in the same groove. We need to watch and gently nudge them in new directions. Maybe skill up if they are ready for it,’’ says Mala. For more details, contact her at 9841068794.
Now, let’s also hear from two parents:
Prabha – ABWA was the one place where we could completely relax, not be judged or criticised…which was heavenly in those stressful early years of our journey with autism.
A Athidev – Untitled.
Advaith Srinivasan – Maze.
Damini Rao Narang – flowers.
Sashank Balu – Grapes.
Priyadarshini with the facilitators.
Vasanta – I wouldn’t rewrite my stars ever…this life has given me different shades of colours and challenges and this journey has given me this beautiful community – the facilitators, moms and boys and girls who grow an inch taller each time I see them. And their work…? I’m like I want them all, an ABWA gallery at home.
Mala gives her thanks to Kavita Krishnamoorthy for the idea of nurturing free artistic expressions, her co-facilitators Jyotsna, Priya Badri, Latha, Sathya, Lavanya and Rangashree. To Viswanadhan and Nadine and Madhuca for giving their houses for ABWA classes, parents, interns, sponsors, well wishers and art aficionados who have gladly bought many of the paintings. A special thumbs-up to The Savera and its people for being invested in the show for the second year running. The anniversary cake they made said it all, ‘10 years of Art and Joy’.