That there are no set guidelines and standard rules when it comes to creating art proved to be especially true, when applied to underprivileged children. Tripti Jain, a 23-year-old student from the city worked with these children, giving them a platform to showcase their talent. By Saritha Saraswathy Balan
They are naïve -as seems usual with children from underprivileged families- yet their curious eyes take in all. Visibly elated, these children from Sarayumal Vihar and Vasant Kunj in the city were showcasing their paintings for the very first time at an exhibition ‘Through Their Windows’ — organised for them by Tripti Jain. None of the kids appear unduly fazed by the hype around them.
Tripti, a 23-year-old graduate student in Organisational Psychology and an active social worker, broke through societal barriers that prevented them from exhibiting their innate talents. Tripti -who herself lives in Sarayumal Vihar- began to work with women and children from the lower income group, since she was 19-year-old. She imparted lessons to the women on the importance of maintain personal hygiene, especially during menstruation. She was amazed to find their children artistically inclined. “I thought I should give them an opportunity to show it to the world.”
The result was the exhibition ‘Through Their Windows’ held recently at the Indian Council for Cultural Relations. We would definitely be mistaken, if we presumed their paintings to be bogged down by dark shades, reflecting their penurious circumstances. All the artworks exhibited are diffuse with bright colours depicting the sky, sun, lotus, flowers, tall trees, birds in love, winding pathways….connotations of a better tomorrow and their innate urge to better their living conditions.
Twelve year old Muskan has drawn a little boy with a colourful head and sides. She calls him a prince, and proudly goes on to explain just how she created it. Another girl by the same name has painted flowers that suffuse their radiance to their creator.
Asmita, a Class 11 student from Vasant Kunj cannot help smiling at the steady stream of visitors who have come to see the paintings. Payal, a 12-year-old, who aspires to be a teacher confesses to ‘painting quite a lot’, while 14-year-old Ajith still cannot believe that ‘his imagination captured on a tiny canvas’ was actually viewed by many. All of them want to become either a teacher or a doctor or even join the police force in future.
What makes ‘Through Their Windows’ unique is that Tripti does not accept any donation in cash, but one does have the option to buy the children gifts they long for. While Ajit wants a football of his own, 15-year-old Kajal dreams of a party dress and 12-year-old Amit longs for a remote control helicopter. Each one of them had a wish of their own.
Overwhelmed by the massive response, Tripti hopes to organise it on a larger scale next year. “While planning this one, there were a lot of hurdles. It was difficult to get a venue, since it is peak-time of the art season here. Everything somehow just fell into place at the last moment,” she smiles. Tripti also collaborates with NGOs to work for the upliftment of underprivileged people in the society.
An artist herself, her debut exhibition was held last year. She managed to raise the funds for the present exhibition from her own pocket money: “I had my paints and colours…the children had their own too. So we managed with a small budget, by helping each other out. And the final result is here for all to see”
“The children never failed to amaze me with their talent. The exhibition is an insight into their beautiful and colourful world of creativity and aspirations,” she avers.
Tripti has inherited her ‘helpful’ streak from her parents whom she says are always keen to help others.