Serendipity often leads to miracles. A year-and-a-half ago, Tarana Khubchandani, founder and director, NGO Passages and Gallery Art & Soul, suggested to artist Brinda Miller that she take up the carpet project to mark breast cancer awareness month. Passages work for cancer patients. Brinda was thinking of doing a similar project to make tapestries with her artwork. The two women decided to work together to translate the art of famous artists on to carpets. Revenue from the sales would go into supporting the cancer cause.
They got 22 of India’s prominent artists such as S H Raza, Ram Kumar, Jehangir Sabavala, Baiju Parthan, Neeraj Goswami on board. Brinda believes the art community is always very forthcoming in extending a helping hand to such causes. She says, “I believe artists are the most sensitive and caring of people. Most of them are generally very cooperative and agree readily to contribute to a credible charity. In our particular case, it is a win-win situation for all since the artists give out only the images and not the actual art work.”
Tarana, a cancer survivor herself, is saddened about the reluctance and indifference among urban women towards breast self-examination and screening. “The onus of detection lies with women. It’s about time we armed ourselves with the right tools and ensured each one of us becomes an ambassador of change,” says the gallerist.
Like all creative personalities, Brinda’s art too has evolved with her experiences. Some of her later works are geometrically conceived and reveal nuances of architecture; visible clearly on the design of carpets inspired by her pieces. She says the tilt towards architecture was a natural progression of her interest in the discipline since she had wanted to become an architect before finally settling on an artistic career. Perhaps a reason why she married an architect and both her daughters are also architects. Her studio is situated on the same premises as her husband’s office.
Brinda is sure that in spite of the present art market being perceived as dull, the quality of art remains high since artists have more time to think and produce good work. A strong advocate of public art, she says, “It is the only way an uninitiated person can be exposed to art. People rarely take time out to visit a gallery. Public gardens and good architecture should be considered as art. The Kala Ghoda Festival is an important event that displays art on the streets. The authorities should be sensitised and trained in advocating art.” She feels murals displayed across cities would play a great role in helping art travel from the drawing rooms of the elite to middle-class homes.
What about artistic freedom? “At different times we have had different kinds of censorship. In the past few years, religion has altered peoples’ belief of right and wrong. Unfortunately, censorship affects all the art verticals,” she rues.
It is not rare for charity and art to come together to create a canvas of compassion. The weft and weaves of this collaboration are sure to decorate the enjoining of affordable art and contemporary design; all for a cause.
QUICK TAKES
Most challenging work.
Kala Ghoda Arts Festival
What’s next?
A solo exhibition of my paintings in Delhi next year
The colour palette she is drawn to.
Warm colours
An upcoming artist to look forward to.
Still looking
The Indian artists you admire the most.
VS Gaitonde, Mehlli Gobhai
WHEN & Where
Venue: Art & Soul, Mumbai
Date: Till November 1