Art on wheels and walls of art

The sprawling campus of The Velammal International School at the Ponneri Campus of Velammal Knowledge Park gets ready to host the inaugural edition of the Velammal Art Tour

 Farhad Hussain designing the Art Tour vehicle
A campus full of life in all its hues. Art takes wings in the sprawling campus of The Velammal International School (TVIS) at the Ponneri Campus of Velammal Knowledge Park, which is all set to host the Velammal Art Tour, a unique cultural extravaganza organised by Chitravathi Centre for Creativity (CCC), taking art to the children, thus igniting their creative self.

As the campus is being decked up to host the Art Tour, conceptualised by eminent artist and  CCC Creative Director Murali Cheeroth, many new things are changing the look and feel of the place. The four-day event to be inaugurated on April 13 to 16, would be an innovative pedagogic bridge connecting art with education as well as the art of learning.


When a car becomes an artistic creation

An interesting element of this distinctive programme comprising interactions and workshops is a car specially designed by Delhi-based artist Farhad Hussain. To convert a car into a work of art for a programme like this is quite unique and it adds more vibrancy to the Art Tour, said the artist who loves to represent the celebrations of life in his artistic creations.

“I want to portray the mirth and merrymakings of life, because if there is no playfulness, our life will be stressful and it would explode,” said Farhad who is busy designing the car, to make it a piece of art on wheels. 

Farhad, who bases his works on the realities of human relationships and their subtle intricacies, always give a touch of humour and playfulness to his creative works, and here also he is planning the same thing.

“Playfulness and humour have great importance in life, and in my art also it is reflected, because humour is always there within me,” said the artist who gives great importance to lines. 

After his graduation from Santiniketan in 2003, Farhad completed his postgraduate diploma from the Faculty of Fine Arts, Baroda in 2005, before devoting his life for art. 


A lover of South Indian films, he says that the vivacity and cheerfulness of those films often inspired him in his creative pursuit. The same merriment, which also reflects the diversity of our culture, is reflected in the works done on the specially designed car as part of the Art Tour. “While humour, which is an integral part of life, is the main focus here as well, I want to bring in some elements of the cultural diversity of South India in designing this car, which serves the cause of popularising art among the student community,” he said. 

Also read: Velammal Art Tour – A new pedagogical approach

Artists and students working on the graffiti

Graffiti adds colours to campus

On the other hand, the graffiti are also adding colours to the campus, where visual artists Sabaridas and Rajasekar are busy working on the images, with the support of the artistically inclined students.

“Art is a medium that can act as a spark for the creativity and inquisitiveness of the children, and that is what we want to do with the graffiti here,” said Bangalore-based artist Sabaridas. “When we conceived the idea of the graffiti, our aim was to portray various luminaries in the field of art, culture, literature, science and social sphere, so that it would arouse the curiosity of the viewers about the personalities portrayed here.” 


The graffiti on two metal walls of 100 and 60 feet each would also stand as an informative artwork, according to Rajasekar, who hails from Cuddalore. “By portraying eminent personalities, and also providing their names separately, the young viewers will be able to research more about them, thus broadening their understanding, which in turn serve an academic purpose as well,” he said.

This is how this participatory graffiti will drive conversation and pedagogy, which would also shape their thought process, thus positively influencing their perspective, according to the artists, who believe that freedom for artistic expression and creativity would change the society faster than politics.

These works are in tune with the philosophy of Art Tour, which would intellectually and creatively engage the students in many ways.





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