At eight, Nila is a veteran of many solo exhibitions of her art works that mostly include acrylic and oil pastels on canvas. At the Durbar Hall Art Gallery on Sunday morning, she sits quietly with pencils and crayons while visitors are curious to know more about her past and what she plans to do in the future.
Her mother, Anupama, an equity trader, says Nila started painting at the age of three and held her first exhibition at the Durbar Hall Art Centre, Kochi, at the age of six. She is also the youngest artist to hold a solo exhibition at the Lalithakala Akademi facility.
Ms. Anupama says Nila works using various tools such as brush, knife, cloth, fingers, toothbrush and tissue paper. She does not attend a regular school as she feels that her art works will be affected. Instead, she takes Open School examinations, says Ms. Anupama. The alternative learning methods outside school has given her more time to indulge in what she loves best.
Nila was also part of the group of artists who participated in last year’s Kochi-Muzuris Biennale.
Her solo exhibitions include the one in 2015 at Kerala Lalithakala Akademi, Kochi; at the Akademi in Kozhikode in 2016 and at the Ballard Bungalow Art Space Gallery at Fort Kochi this year.
Nila plans to carry on with her creative works even as she has conducted workshops and has plans to work with other artists, says her mother. The exhibition of Nila’s works is on till October 27.
