Art that helps you take flight

Don't we all love art, in how it helps us express our feelings? The canvas helps the artist find their wings, and fly to unimaginable heights.

‘Parvaaz’, an exhibition organised recently at the All India Fine Arts & Crafts Society in the capital, is a testament to this fact. The exhibition displayed close to 150 artworks that ranged from acrylic paintings and oil on canvas to simple sketches. The exhibitions also showcased crafts borne by hand. The artists were an eclectic group, varying from 5 to 85 years in age. Harjit Dhillon, Suraj Shukla, Priyadarshi Gautam and Shikha Amandeep Singh, were some of the individuals whose artworks were presented there.

Parvaaz in Urdu signifies ‘rising’ or ‘flight’. In the context of the exhibition, it is a tribute to the thoughts and feelings that an artist not only has but also uses to soar so high that their works become timeless and boundless. Apart from the usage of acrylic and oil paints, many artists have used various organic raw materials from their home states.

Erum Khan, the curator, reveals that coming up with the exhibition was not an easy task as the challenges of hosting one were numerous. She further explains, “Bringing artists from all across the country under one roof and selecting their works was quite a challenge.” The criteria for selecting paintings for the exhibition, she says, was that the works had to align with the theme of Parvaaz. Hence, the artists had to first send their works on email.

“The main objective was to bring the best works from all cities to our city — Delhi. And, to achieve that, whatever help or support was required, I provided. It is evident throughout the exhibition,” she says.

Art, in recent times, has deviated more towards the commercial side of things. It has been observed that, in an attempt to achieve success, artists often tend to deviate from the core roots of creation. She says, “I believe it is true that art has been commercialised too much. We have ended up forgetting our cultural identity. It is due to this that there is a distance in all our relations.” But despite all obstacles, she points out, there are people who are not just interested but completely immersed in Indian art.

According to Erum, there are many mediums for an artist to succeed in today’s times. “Nowadays, everything is available in the market. Artists have that luxury to use what they want. The other thing is that artists can now promote themselves. Previously it was not possible because they did not have the right medium,” she says. She further adds, “It is the right time for any hidden talents to come out and showcase himself.”