CHENNAI : I never teach art to my students, I only make them think like an artist,” says Bineesh Velammal, Head of the TVIS Velammal Knowledge Park Art department. The six-day exhibition, Represent, which began on April 5 was inaugurated by well-known contemporary artist TV Santhosh. Organised by Velammal’s Chitravathi Centre for Visual Arts, the exhibition hosts a wide range of paintings, portraits, sculptures, clay and wired models. With the support of encouraging parents and art teachers, student artists from various Velammal Vidyalayas in the city created a platform to appreciate the artwork. The hall exhibits about 100 paintings, created by around 116 students.
“This is the first time I am exhibiting my artwork. It gives us confidence and immense pleasure to know that art is still celebrated,” shares Kaushik, a class 8 student. Each day, a particular batch of students are given the opportunity to explain their artwork. According to Bineesh, the school is taking all possible efforts to encourage various modes of paintings and sculpture-making such as pencils, acrylics, charcoal, wired, clay and thread. Based on the skills and talents, the school has divided the children into two groups — Core team and Non-core team. They are taught the skill to express through art.
The event also included various talks and workshops by eminent personalities. BO Shailesh, an artist from the Cholamandal Artists Village, who conducted a one-day workshop says, “It is easy to shape young minds. I loved the enthusiasm in these kids.” During the closing ceremony, to be conducted today, the artists will be honoured by Anitha Mabel Manohar, the Director of NIFT. A similar event of this magnitude was previously conducted in 2013.