From surgeons to designers, alumni return to art after decades

Pune: Fifty students of the Sheth Dagaduram Katariya English Medium High School from the 1986 to 2007 batch kept in touch over the years because of their beloved art teacher Shailaja Pathak and have come back together for a group exhibition titled Reflections, which helps them relive their classroom lessons — not in memory, but in practice.The exhibition opened on April 23 at the Balgandharva Art Gallery and is on till April 25, bringing together works by the alumni across generations.Pathak taught each of them years apart, but in ways that stayed with them long after they left school. "I began teaching in 1975 and retired in 2007. But, in truth, a teacher never really retires," Pathak said.The alumni's connection has taken tangible form over the years, through a Whatsapp group, meet-ups and, now, a collective exhibition.The premise of the show was to use art to reflect what the alumni were doing in their field of work. "Many of them studied art with me from a very young age until Class 12. While some went on to become art directors or interior designers, others chose entirely different professions. Today, they are doctors, engineers, architects, working across fields. Yet art has remained a part of their lives in different forms. When we came together again, I told them, let us create something meaningful to reflect who we are now," said Pathak.The result is a body of work that moves between the personal and the professional. An orthopaedic surgeon has painted an abstract knee joint. A medical professional working in IVF has created works around life and nurture. Another participant has depicted the human heart following her own surgery. An engineer has translated the internal design of mobile chips into intricate compositions.The exhibition marks a return to art after decades for many. "This is my first painting in 25 years," said consultant surgeon Chaitanya Waghchoure from the school's 2000 batch. "I have attempted an abstract interpretation of the knee joint. It is the only canvas I could manage over three or four days. While I don't usually get the time to sit down and paint, I do engage with my artistic side through digital sketches for patient explanations, communication and charts."Art has continued to be an integral part of their careers for others. Ketakee Goje, from the 2002 batch, painted terracotta plates that show her journey in designing webpages. "I studied art in school. Those early years stayed with me even as my career moved into a different space. I work in IT, leading a team of UI designers, but art has always been my foundation. These three plates represent key turning points in my design journey — moments that shaped how I think, create and evolve," said Goje.Over 15 alumni of the 50 are based out of Pune across Bengaluru, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Manipur and even the US. They couriered their artworks to the city to be displayed on gallery walls.
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