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Indian Express
02-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Strokes of culture: how ‘The Friendly Brush Strokes' became more than just art
Written by Bhoomika Roy Bannerjee Within the walls of Karnataka Chitrakala Parishath in Bengaluru, something quietly powerful and creative is taking place – The Friendly Brush Strokes, an art exhibition that was not born in the studios of professional curators or commercial galleries but in a moment of kinship between five strangers-turned-friends. At first glance, it appears like any other modest art exhibition. But as you step inside, you can hear the brushstrokes whisper stories of self-taught journeys and passion nurtured through years of working other jobs. 'None of us knew each other before last year's Chitra Santhe,' says Christopher M, the event's organiser. 'We admired each other's works, spoke, and laughed, and the idea just sparked. Over a year's worth of discussion, we came up with the idea of this exhibition.' Christopher, a self-taught artist from Kerala, spent over 25 years in advertising before choosing to return to the world he had first touched with pencil sketch outlines as a child. Today, he is as comfortable creating oil paintings as he is with digital art on canvas. His story alone could fill a gallery, but it's the collective voice of the group that makes this show remarkable. Alongside him stands a diverse group of artists —Meghna Chowhan, Shrinivas, Sojaa Soman, and Meera. Some of them were lawyers and civil engineers. Some are full-time artists. Each presents a unique style, ranging from acrylics and mural painting to the famous Gond tribal style of art practised in Madhya Pradesh. Every piece was created using just a brush—no mixed media, no embellishments. That simplicity is part of the point. 'We wanted to name it something honest,' explains Christopher. 'We all work with brushes. And more importantly, we've become friends through our variety of styles using a singular tool.' There is no overarching theme, but the exhibition isn't about aligning styles, but about what happens when five people believe their art deserves an audience. 'We are just seeing how it goes, as this is our first group exhibition,' Christopher says when asked about the future of The Friendly Brush Strokes. 'If people respond, if this works—maybe it becomes a yearly thing.' In a world where creativity often fights for space, an exhibition like this serves as a reminder that art does not always need a grand hall or curatorial statements to matter. Sometimes, all it takes is five brushes and one shared wall. The exhibition will be open to visitors until July 6. The author is an intern with The Indian Express.
Time of India
28-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Art finds a home beyond gallery walls
Chitrakala Parishath Indian Institute of World Culture Indira Gandhi National Centre for Arts A group of five artists have joined hands to promote art amongst the people who visit Lakshmi Kantha Park at Padmanabhanagar in South Bengaluru. The group has been organising the art show at the park during weekends, and are happy with the response from those who visit the park in the morning and evening for a a visual artist and graduate of, said that she recently began exhibiting her works at local parks to observe public engagement and reactions. 'It was a success. Later, I decided to call more artists to join me to exhibit their works. The goal of this is to make art accessible to more people,'' she said. Raksha shared that earlier she exhibited her artworks in galleries, but primarily those familiar with art and already interested in it visited. 'I wanted the general public to be aware or know more about art and make art accessible to them,'' she H, an artist from Padmanabhanagar, expressed that she was delighted with the experience of the art show. 'Many of the visitors have evinced interest to know about Mandala art. It is my fourth art show. I put up a stall during Chitra Santhe. I have also exhibited my art works at(IIWC), and,'' said Paul, who specialises in intricate versions of Kalamkari art, said that the art show provided a platform for exposure to different kinds of artwork. 'A few senior citizens came along with their grand-children who were enthusiastic to know about Kalamkari art,'' said Paul. Appreciating the artists for organising the art show, Captain Ramesh Nanjundaiah, a resident of the area, said that he wants the artists to organise more art shows for the benefit of people who visit the park. 'I am very happy to see different types of art works. It is a visual treat,'' he a similar opinion, Sreelatha Ramesh, another resident, highlighted that the art show allowed visitors to know about various unique art styles.
