Girls prefer art, boys are more into sports’. I wish I had collected say 500 bucks everytime someone said this to me since I started teaching art. I would currently be writing this article on my laptop cruising in turquoise waters of the Bahamas, sipping on frozen strawberry margarita, soaking in summer sun and enjoying the cool ocean breeze.
Alas here I am writing this from my living room in ‘Sobo’
with my dog gently snoring next to my foot listening to the constant rhythm of
the construction drill humming in our area that we have become so accustomed to
lately.
If I had to ask you a rapid fire question Karan Johar style “Quickly name 3 Indian or International artists whose paintings you are aware of right now!” Who do you think you would name? Let me guess, maybe Picasso, Leonardo Da Vinci, M.F.Hussain or maybe even Raza or Van Gogh. I bet very few of you thought of Frida Kahlo, Yayoi Kusama or Georgia O’ Keeffe let alone our Indian artists Amrita Sher- Gil or Anjolie Ela Menon. The irony is not lost, it is in fact glaringly obvious. Since the Renaissance male artists were given more importance than females. Women were always considered below par. All the famous musicians or artists have been men since then.
Yet here we are in the new modern world on the other end of the misogynist spectrum where now girls should paint whereas boys painting looks effeminate to some. It’s scientifically proven that ART can spark creativity and imagination. It can make us smarter. It can lower stress. It can feel like being in love and open our minds and hearts. So whether you are doodling in your office notepad over a boring business call or creating bold strokes on canvas in your free time, you are invariably being kind to your mind and heart by creating art.
Art has no gender, no religion and no language. It’s a medium that unites us, makes us happy and liberates us. As Frida Kahlo famously said “The only thing I know is that I paint because I need to, and I paint whatever passes through my head without any other consideration.” Many still believe that colours define gender or interests and hobbies define who we are. We are all humans. Irrespective of our colour, race or gender we all feel pain, loss and stress. And we all are trying to look for ways to make life meaningful and happy.
ART HEALS. Its Therapeutic! Try it. By Rakhi (She is an Art Therapist practitioner & teaches art to kids/ adults . Art N Soul Studio, Om Chambers, Kemps Corner. Instagram: @ artnsoulbyrakhi Mob: 9820077173
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