As mist gave way to soaring rays of summer on Friday morning, 11 transgenders from different parts of the state took a leap of joy on the dusty road to a solitary ashram at Anaikatti hills in lap of Western Ghats. It was the end of art and healing, a three-day-long workshop that indeed healed their psyche, often haunted by the societal taboo for being the ‘other gender.’
Organised by Sahodari Foundation based at Auroville near Puducherry, the workshop was organised to kindle their passion for art, a medium that has healing power.
“Their hearts are battered by the stigma and social castaways for being the third gender. I also wanted to give them a lifetime experience of being in solitude in the lap of nature. Also, art is a therapy and it is a medium with which they can express themselves freely without the fear of being judged and biased. It was indeed a healing session from them,” said Kalki Subramaniam, founder of Sahodari Foundation.
Ms. Subramaniam said that the workshop was first of its kind in the country and second workshop will be held in Kochi where country’s first international school for transgenders was recently started.
S. Hariparthan, a Puducherry-based artist and trainer, said that the participants were introduced to simple art techniques and basic human anatomy.
“After two days of training in drawing and painting in acrylic medium, they were given topics to create their own works on the third day. They could come out with some inspiring works,” said Mr. Hariparthan According to Sowndharya Gopi, one of the participants, the workshop could kindle passion for art inside her. “Now I am confident to do my own works”, she added.
“The participants could do some wonderful works which will be showcased in an upcoming exhibition. The works will be sold and the money will be given to them. This will help them generate income in the long run,” said Ms. Subramaniam, who had conducted an exhibition in Coimbatore.
She said that 60 % of ₹ 2 lakh she raised from selling paintings were used for the welfare of transgenders. Ms. Subramaniam said that the foundation has plans to conduct exhibition in major cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Chandigarh, Goa, Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram.
