One of the works on display | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
Touchable tigers, signing sculptures and Braille puzzles on canvas.
Today at Apparao Gallery, accessibility leads the conversation, thanks to artworks – some interactive – by 10 artists with disabilities that occupy the otherwise traditional gallery space that Chennai collectors frequent. An abstract, paneled work and realistic portrait of India’s national animal, complemented by an experimental series of acrylic flora that extends onto a canvas frame, kickstarts a display that does not follow a narrative per se. Mediums abound—from acrylics and clay to paper and fabric—make an appearance through canvases that hope to catch the collector’s eye. Dubbed a sensory art exhibition, the display hopes to cater to senses other than just sight and in essence advocates inclusivity from the perspective of the audience as well.
Artists mostly from Chennai and Tamil Nadu are part of Kai Rope, a non-profit organization that spearheads commercial arts programs and creates inclusive spaces for artists with disabilities. And it marks his fourth formal exhibition. As the exhibit opens, each of them stands guard next to their respective artworks, eager to fill the audience in on their thoughts behind each concept, while they engage in conversation with fellow artists with whom they They share space. For founders Divya Rao, Kadambari Narendran and Indira Reddy, the show meant being more than just ‘disability-driven’. Divya says, “Then, the buyer who comes is not looking for anything other than just donating money. We wanted to change that. We wanted to let them know that they too are getting something beautiful in return.” The idea is for the galleries to collaborate with each artist in an individual capacity.
Midway, a series of 11 clay sculptures created by students of the Mary Clubwala Jadhav School for the Hearing Impaired, makes an interesting break in the narrative. They give a pause, and pay attention. Each sculpture is a hand cast with each student’s handprint. They depict letters in American and Indian Sign Language, paired with pictures of students signing them, and read “We’re listening”: a witty take on the very inefficiency that ostracizes them. Visual artist Shreya Chajed, who led this special project, says, “They were really excited about the medium, and did it very smartly. We rehearsed with them before creating the final model.
The showstopper is probably the work of UK-based, partially blind artist Clark Reynolds, with leaflets with patterns that depict each alphabet. Viewers can use this sheet as a reference to interpret the words on the canvas. The takeaway message is. The collaborative work has been put together through a virtual workshop with students from Lady Andal IB, Yein Udan and girls from Prem Vihar.
One of the works on display | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
Happy that Aishwarya, a deaf-mute artist who specializes in many mediums of painting, has done excellent paper-cutting work this time. The delicate, concentric circles sometimes embellished with gold paper took no less than a week’s work. As for Lokesh, whose penchant for animal forms has been established through his acrylic works, he prompts the interpreter which translates to, “India’s national animal has always fascinated me. Ever -Sometimes, I look at pictures of these big cats and try to trace them onto the canvas.” He points to a black-and-white series of canvases with moving bulls and says, “But when I think of Tamil Nadu, bulls come to mind.” He is hearing-impaired.
For Anthony, who has been a carpentry and art teacher for the last 34 years at an exclusive school in the city, art equals functionality. The unusual canvas frame upon which acrylic paintings of flora spill out came out of a need to be unique. “I wanted to do something that was a little different, that would feel good in a home,” he says. He was infected with polio as a three-month-old baby. An independent artist, he strives to remove the stigma surrounding people with physical and intellectual disabilities.
Betsy’s acrylic works speak of subtle skill. The tree-lined path casts zigzag shadows. A tactile version of the work, by Access for All, comes with the frame. Pavitra’s abstract series is a study on gradation of colours, blue being her muse. Shiva’s sketches, on the other hand, have already earned her good recognition and recognition, says Divya.
The exhibition will be on till April 2 at Apparao Gallery, Nungambakkam