On the ground floor of Vanna Aruvi Art Gallery on Saint Therese Street, 11-year old Arthi in her school uniform pointed at a painting displayed on the wall. It had a wheel-chair bound boy moving towards the two open doors. “Every physically handicapped person should come out and explore, and attempt to do things fearlessly,” she said before stating that she was born partially blind.
“This handicap will not stop me from continuing my studies. No one who is physically challenged should sit at home and give up. Instead they should strive to achieve something. I wanted to show this in my painting,” asserted the student of Government Girls Higher Secondary School in Thiruvandarkoil.
Ms. Arthi was one of the 31 students from government higher secondary schools whose works have been displayed at the ‘Nalladhor Veenai Seidhen’ exhibition in Vanna Aruvi Art Gallery.
Selva Angle Fine Arts Foundation (SAFAF), after providing colouring materials to the 31 students from three government schools in Puducherry, organised the exhibition of their paintings at the art gallery.
Took six months to finish
“It took the children six months to complete the artworks. It is an initiative to encourage students from impoverished sections and with single parents studying in government schools in Puducherry,” said S.M.C.Rajesh, an artist and photographer, who runs Vanna Aruvi Art Gallery.
He added that art teachers at Ilango Adigal Government Higher Secondary School, Mutharaiyarpalayam, Dr. Ambedkar Government Higher Secondary School, Kirumambakkam and Government Higher Secondary School in Thiruvandarkoil took up the responsibility by assigning themes. At least 10 students from each school were selected. The children had, through their paintings, emphasised the importance of protecting environment.
The exhibition will be held till April 14 and it is open for public between 9.30 a.m. to 9.30 p.m.
