Community Connect: Colours, connection & calm - From painting totes & sharing stories to finding company

As creative expression finds new voices in the city, art is no longer confined to galleries or tradition-bound spaces — it is becoming a means to pause, reconnect and step beyond comfort zones. Reflecting this shift, a newly formed community, Conscious Energy Generators, recently hosted a tote bag painting workshop, where participants participated to explore mindful creativity, self-expression and shared experiences.

Divya Khanna, founder of the Conscious Energy Generator community, says the initiative began just a month ago as a passion project. “What started as a simple space for conversation soon evolved into in person gatherings, with our first event — a tote bag painting workshop — drawing around 20 participants.”

‘WE DON’T OFFER THERAPY, BUT WE DO OFFER EMOTIONAL SUPPORT’Divya is also clear about the community’s role. “We don’t offer therapy, but we do offer emotional support. You can come, sit and feel like you belong. You’re OK just as you are,” she explains. Recalling a recent event, she shares the story of a young mother with a one-year-old child who was struggling with postpartum depression and had little support at home. “After the session, she told us she didn’t realise how the two hours passed. She said it felt like help,” Divya adds.

CHOOSING PAINTING AND PEOPLE OVER PHONESAt its core, Divya stresses, the initiative is not a service but a support system. “We are a community. We don’t provide money; we provide resources,” she explains, adding that the community aims to address the quiet isolation many experience today. “The community is intentionally age-inclusive, and making the workshop exclusive to women was also a conscious choice. Women are often vulnerable and feel safer in supportive spaces like this, allowing them to express themselves and showcase their talents.”

“Instead of getting addicted to social media, people should come together, mingle and learn creative activities. Painting, in particular, feels like a form of therapy; it makes us feel relaxed, calm and mindful,” says Devi, a 65-year-old participant.

‘HAVING A COMMUNITY OUTSIDE OF WORK IS ESSENTIAL’“For a long time, I had been looking for a community where I could hang out, explore new interests and have meaningful conversations — somewhere I could feel safe and at home. I came across this community on social media and decided to try one of the activities to connect and explore what I truly enjoy. Through the community, I’ve made at least four friends,” says Dr Mahalakshmi K, a dentist.

In cities like Chennai and other metropolitan hubs, where busy work schedules are the norm, Mahalakshmi believes having a community outside of work is essential — one where people can express themselves, learn new activities and simply breathe.