Different strokes

Asunny day with a hint of breeze, amidst the picturesque venue spread over thousand acres, was the perfect setting for a plethora of creative genius’ to come together.
The Lake City near Lonavala played host to 21 prominent Indian artists who were there to render support for the Celebration Of Lives - National Campaign By Artists Against HIV AIDS, which was a joint effort of UNDP Regional HIV and Development Programme and a prominent media parivaar.
In this unique venture, renowned artists like Jatin Das,Manu Parekh, Rekha Rao, Bulbul Sharma, among the many, spent three days with HIV infected patients, expressing themselves through colours, words and shapes.
“This is the first time in Indian history that acclaimed artists have come together to raise their voices against HIV AIDS. Artists are known to be sensitive and can identify with the pain of being ostracised by the society laden with misconceptions, prejudices and lack of awareness about AIDS,� said Dolly Narang, owner of Village Art Gallery in Delhi.
She is planning to take a mobile exhibition of all the works produced here to all the metros and raise funds for UNDP programme People Living With HIV AIDS (PLWHA).
For the artists, it was the arousing of a new consciousness. Said muralist-poet-sculptor maestro Jatin Das, “I call this being a Sahhriday, which transends mere understanding of AIDS.�
For writer-artist Bulbul Sharma, oil pastles and acrylic were just two ways bringing thoughts and feelings together.
“It is heart wrenching to see innocent women being victimised by AIDS and facing death every day of their life,� she says, “I think my painting will bring this issue to the forefront.�
For, Delhi based painter and bio-technologist in cell research Harsha Vardhana, “As a scientist, I have seen the state of those T8 and T10 cells falling when HIV attacks the body. This affects me and makes me see this in a completely new light.�
For the organisers, this collective creative outburst only encourages them to continue work on these lines.
“We are glad to see the give and take of ideas between artists from Delhi, Calcutta and Mumbai for ‘Celebration of Life’. This ensures funds generated from these works,� adds Afsana Cherian, organiser and UNDP project manager Afsana Cherian.