“I finished that Ramayana painting in half an hour. But I like to paint Kathakali. You see that mask there? I drew it,” says 16-year-old Pranav Varma, as he points to one of the exhibits in the art exhibition at the Spastics Society of Karnataka (SSK) on Friday.
An intellectual impairment with Pervasive Development Disorder has no bearing on the large storyboard depicting events from the epic Ramayana . “I paint at home. My parents like my paintings. I like colours,” adds the artist, even as he narrates his year-long journey into the world of art.
His paintings are among the nearly 100 pieces of art that children of the Spastics Society of Karnataka have produced. From abstract art to meaningful storyboards, from perfect pieces of Warli paintings to glass paintings, these children have done it all. And they are all up for sale on the Spastics society campus at Indiranagar till Saturday between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. They are priced anywhere between Rs. 250 and Rs. 2,000.
This is the third annual exhibition-cum-sale of the art work of children from the society, said Vidya Venkat, co-ordinator, Creative Art Unit, SSK. Children with autism, Down’s syndrome, cerebral palsy and slow learners have all used their artistic skills in creating the works on display.
“Some use their imagination, some others work on ideas given to them. It depends from child to child. Each one reacts to art differently and perceives it differently too. For example, Pranav is more vocal while Gayathri (another artist whose work is on display) needs to be in the mood to paint. Bharath is a foot artist. It is an expression of their creativity. Painting is a medium of expression,” Ms. Venkat explained.
The children’s art work is then made presentable simply by adding a mount and a frame, both of which costs good money. The proceedings from the sales are in turn used to make the art unit self-sustained. Buyers also include companies, who buy greeting cards or desktop calendars from SSK.
