[PhotoSparks] ‘Find your own voice and let it shine through the turmoil’ – Tulika Tripathi, Mahua Art Gallery

PhotoSparks is a weekly feature from YourStory, with photographs that celebrate the spirit of creativity and innovation. In this photo essay, we showcase some of the outstanding works of art from the Mahua Gallery and its Art Collective initiative!

In the earlier 130 posts, we brought you a wide range of creative photographs from an art fair, world music festival, painting fair, telecom expo, art museum, mobile showcase, math museum, social hackathon, bookstore, co-working space, sensorium, international design week, flower show, outdoor ads, startup roadshow, computer museum, startup T-shirts, business cards, art therapy, startup festival, Diwali rangoli, Vesak, jazz festival, modern art gallery, ecopreneurs, painter-poets, health activists, eNGOs and digital innovators.

Located in Bengaluru, Mahua Art Gallery was founded in 2002 by Meenu Jaipuria to showcase contemporary Indian artists and promote young emerging talent. Her father, Dr. H.K. Kejriwal, was a founding member of Chitrakala Parishad.

Meenu also founded Art Collective in 2014 to enable artists to showcase their work through a new print platform using giclee technology. It is a process for creating high-quality art prints, and artists can earn royalties through the sales of such prints. Another initiative, the Mahua Arts Foundation, creates a holistic art community across various disciplines through lectures and workshops. “Our mission is to bring art to all,” according to Meenu.

“Those who have the gift of creation should be supported and sustained,” says Jahnvi Pananchikal, relationship manager at Art Collective. Artists are often the least paid, most ignored and undervalued community, she laments.

“Bengaluru’s art market is evolving differently as compared to Mumbai or Delhi,” said Tulika Tripathi, artist relations manager at Mahua Art Gallery, in an interview with YourStory. A new art economy is emerging, with artistes experimenting with a range of styles including digital media. Tulika was earlier assistant manager at Rereeti, an organisation founded to transform museums in India into spaces of delight and meaningful engagement.

The gallery invites young artists to submit their recent works for the Young Artists Awards, to be held in September this year. “Love what you do, but don’t be afraid of being different or unconventional. Find your own voice, and let it shine through periods of turmoil and turbulence,” Tulika advises aspiring artists.

Featured artists at the gallery include Shanta Sarvaiya, HR Das, Subrata Biswas, Mukesh Salvi, Gopinath S, Pradip Sengupta, Jagannath Paul, Sumita Maily and Harish Bhoyar. As highlighted in this photo essay, their works of art reflect a wide range of themes, materials, styles and regional influences. So what are you doing today to explore your own voice?

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