In an effort to promote local and new talent, the IIT Alumni Club has started an art club called Impressions. Inaugurated on Thursday with a group of paintings titled Inspired by Life by art director Thotta Tharrani, the club has taken its first step towards promoting creativity in art.
Talking about the club, one of the members of the marketing committee of IIT Alumni Club and the MD of Rage Communications JRK Rao says, “We have started this art club as our first initiative towards promoting creative endeavours. We hope to branch out to otheractivities like performing arts in the near future.”
He adds that Impressions is also an attempt to expose the alumni, the staff and faculty of IIT-M to culture. Soon, the club will have talk sessions on art appreciation and art as an investment, he says.
The exhibition by Tharrani is on for the next two weeks and the club members say that they chose to begin the art club with his work as they inspire young artists.
A retrospective of the artist’s work, Inspired by life comprises works in a number of mediums—charcoal, pencil, crayon and acrylic, and paintings specially done for the show.
Thotta Tharrani says that Chennai and India offer several inspirations. “There is no dearth of subjects in a place like ours. I am very happy that I have received enough recognition for my works,” he says.
He adds that every artist is struggling and that despite all the years of experience, he, too, is struggling in his own way.
“There have been paintings that I have struggled to sell. I would only suggest that all artists should work for art and not with the aim of selling it. The minute the commercial aspect comes in their mind, it is going to be all the more difficult. The works will sell when they have to.”
(Those interested in presenting their artwork may contact the club office at 45534401, 45534409 or send a mail to events@iitalumniclub.org)