Mumbai students show their 'Out of the Box' creativity

It’s a show where creativity knows no boundaries. Now in its sixth year, the students of Cathedral and John Connon Senior School are putting up their annual art exhibition titled ‘Out of the Box-VI’ at Tao Art Gallery in the city. And like every year, the earnings from the sale of artworks at the exhibition will be donated to support several causes via charitable organisations. The aim of the exhibition is to give the children freedom to bring their imagination to life. The artists have experimented with a variety of media and surfaces, and most importantly with multifarious themes in creating their artwork.

Their art teacher, Nanda Das, is exhilarated, as he praises the original thinking of his students. Das says, “We started these exhibitions seven years ago, and trust me, it’s not the traditional way of painting that we showcase here. There’s no theme that the children have to follow. This year, a lot of kids have reflected contemporary social issues through their art works.”

There are 60 works in total by 9th to 12th standard kids. And as Das points out, “At this exhibition, they express their talent, creativity through installations, sculpture and paintings. The proceedings from the sale go to NGOs. I sit with them, give them some ideas, and then they do it all by themselves. Throughout this process, they also talk to me and update me on what they’re doing. The process starts about three months earlier, which gives them enough time to make the compositions more beautiful and correct if need be.”

Leia Tyebjee, a praticipant from 9th standard, highlighted peace, freedom and the idea of paradise on her two canvases. “I’m very excited because it’s like being part of a proper professional platform. It’s on a different dimension altogether,” she says.

Kalpana Shah, director of Tao Art Gallery, which will host the exhibition, says, “My children were also from Cathedral, and I’ve noticed that most children there are well-travelled and the ones with the artistic bent of mind are better exposed to gallery culture. I do this exhibition because I want those kids to take up art seriously, professionally and positively. If, at the end of the day, I manage to change the lives of even two kids, it’d be a great achievement for me.”

She says that she’s seen a definite improvement in the artists since the beginning of the exhibition seven years ago. “Now the kids know about proper framing, naming the work, presentation etc. And it’s this sincerity that counts. It’s my responsibility as a gallery owner to create that awareness amongst budding artists and their parents.”

The exhibition was slated to be inaugurated by Shah and Meera Isaacs, the Principal of the Cathedral School yesterday.

When: On till November 30
Where: Sarjan Plaza, Tao Art Gallery, Worli