The Hindu

Britons on a mission to know status of city art scene

T. Saravanan

Awestruck by the richness of South Indian art

BRUSH WITH TALENTS: Jill Nicklin and Francesca Currie at a city school on Sunday.

MADURAI: For once, the spacious terrace of Madura College Higher Secondary School here turned into an art studio with visitors from the United Kingdom providing an insight into the world of art to participating students.

They are here on an art project. The mission of Jill Nicklin, an art historian, and Francesca Currie, a student of art from Worcester College of Technology School of Art and Craft, is to conduct a feasibility study to develop a cultural project in the Temple City.

“There are numerous museums in England and we have been sufficiently informed about Moghul art and architecture but, unfortunately, nothing about South Indian art. We were awestruck on seeing the richness of South Indian art when we visited the temples. The paintings and sculptures there revitalise the essence of art,” said Ms. Jill Nicklin, who is an expert in West African art.

They also felt that many young artists here are more concerned about their career and in their pursuit of lucrative offers most of them tend to lose the ‘sting’ in their art.

“Prejudice against those pursuing art and design is universal. Even in England, those in the science stream have a tendency to avoid a person from art stream. But people have to realise the fact that art is something that provides you a platform to give vent to your emotions,” said Ms. Francesca Currie.

The project, funded by Worcestershire-based Janeve Foundation, is an educational and developmental programme for school students. On behalf of the foundation, the visitors would look into possibilities of United Kingdom funding and partnership, said R. Siva, an art teacher at the school, who conducts free art classes for students under the banner CANVAS regularly.

No gallery scene

“Art galleries are very common in England. Every town has at least one gallery. Besides, there are plenty of private art schools. On the basis of information we gathered, we don’t find such a practice here, except for some individual efforts like that of Mr. Siva and Mr. Ramanan (another teacher),” Ms. Jill Nicklin commended the young art teachers.

“If things move along expected lines, the foundation has planned to hold art exhibitions of local artists; conduct workshops in art, writing, dance and sculpture for all ages; organise special courses in schools; drama and dance performances; poetry writing, music, photography, traditional folk dance and music sessions, competitions and art festivals,” she listed out.

The Britons felt that managements should display mural paintings in their schools to motivate students.