This exhibition gathers together the work of third-year arts students, resulting from an exploratory assignment within a “still life studies” class, where I served as artist mentor. Intending to open young minds to infinite possibilities, I asked the students to carefully observe the works of master artists and try to relate, imbibe, and/or juxtapose their narrative visuals with the particular theme of the still life arrangement assembled in the classroom studio to work from.

I challenged them to quote and to relocate the still life in a fresh new space of their choosing, to create their own unique compositions. The question of creative freedom was important too, so I introduced the students to appropriation strategies.  Drawing on pedagogical nuances, I aimed to engage the students intimately with the works of masters while exploring on their own how an artist traverses pathways of creativity to create their own visual language.

I am happy to share the extraordinary artworks created by the student artists for the assignment.

Many thanks to my colleagues from the Indian College of Arts and Draftsmanship, who have been extremely supportive all along.  I am indebted to Sri Jogen Chowdhury, who has kindly consented to open the show.