Business Standard

Inmate art

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Business Standard New Delhi
Yet another feather in Central Cottage Industries Corporation of India's (CCIC) cap.

 
Besides promoting indigenous artisans and handicrafts, the organisation does its bit in the social sector by promoting various causes. Fund collection for under-privileged children, cancer patients and drought victims. Its latest endeavour is a painting exhibition called Expression Tihar.

 
Organised in collaboration with Tihar jail and Armaan, an NGO, the exhibition showcases the brushstrokes of a number of juvenile prisoners (in the age group 18-21 years) lodged in Tihar's Central Jail No 5.

 
The 150-odd paintings cover a gamut of subjects, ranging from landscapes to portraits to scenes from daily life. The influences are not only varied but esoteric "" expressionism to tantra to Hindi film posters to comic book art.

 
The majority of the paintings are by Sanjay Kumar and Kaushal Kumar (both undertrials). The medium preferred is water and poster colours. Though not high art, these paintings are awash with passion and determination, framing the creators' wish to rise above their situation.

 
There are instances where the unconscious or fantasy take precedence. But these are to be expected from artists (most of them without formal training) so young.

 
There are caves where dark browns jostle for space with zones imbued in pale yellow; doors opening onto blue rectangles (freedom or melancholia?), faces turned away from open windows with broken barbed wires.

 
And then there is one of a decaying Taj (a comment on our times?). The expressions are at times amateurish but the creative processes are honest as well as brutal.

 
The grim canvases are juxtaposed with those showing pretty pictures of women fetching water, washing clothes, going to temples.

 
On sale, these paintings are priced between Rs 800 and Rs 3,000. For details contact the Superintendent, Central Jail No 5; telephone numbers: 25621609, 25551589, 25555305, 25553404.

 
An easier way of course is to visit softronindia.com/expressionstihar. The exhibition is open till August 12 at CCIC's Janpath outlet.

 

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First Published: Aug 09 2003 | 12:00 AM IST

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