White paper assumed colour. Forms took shape, some were abstract, some were from real life. The dining table became a table where art flowed freely. Colour pencils were strewed, as also crayons, poster paints, little tubs of water and paint brushes. “I have never held a colour pencil in my whole life,” said one elder. Difference was obvious but it slowly morphs into smiles, laughter, a sense of camaraderie, and confidence.
This was the scenario at the art workshop in Indira Nagar organised by UDHAVI, an Adyar based NGO focusing on elder care. “It was a great morning. Some of them can’t remember when they had such a good time. They found the exercise cathartic,” says Deeptha Thattai, core group member of UDHAVI and one of the main organisers of the event.
Bhagwan Chavan, senior artist at Cholamandal and a volunteer of UDHAVI conducted the workshop. “You don’t have to be an artist to paint or draw,” he assured, “You can just express your feelings through colour. Art is a physical expression of inner feelings.”
“We plan to hold regular art workshops in future,” says Sabita Radhakrishna Chairperson UDHAVI. “Getting out of the house away from a secluded existence works like magic. It means socialising and meeting with other elders and being inspired by them. We have already planned on another art workshop in North Chennai which will be organised by UDHAVI members who live in that area.”
All services by UDHAVI are pro bono, and the main objective is to make the silver years worth living. Elders interested may contact UDHAVI at [email protected] or call 97907 04874 or 98400 92938.
