Pune: Graduating students from six art colleges in the city are showcasing their final project at an ongoing art exhibition titled The Next Chapter organised by and at Monalisa Kalagram in Koregaon Park .Students from Abhinav Kala Mahavidyalaya, Bharati Vidyapeeth College of Fine Arts, Devrukh College of Art and Design, MIT School of Fine Art & Applied Arts, Sahyadri School of Art and SNDT are part of the show which places mentorship and experimentation first.Varying from abstract expressionism to impressionism, surrealism to photorealism and an array of landscapes in various styles, the artworks express a wide range of perspective about form, identity, politics and an artist’s role in society. The exhibition is on till Sunday and the intention is to avoid spectacle and invite reflection.Professor Avdhut Potphode of Devrukh College of Art and Design in Ratnagiri district said, “Most of our students are from nearby rural areas. They are inspired by nature and not other artists, and it shows in their work ,” he said.Potphode highlighted student Arya Kamat’s art which is an observation of village women’s life as they work in the fields or chat with friends. The selection process for the exhibition at Sahyadri School of Art in Sawarde was straightforward. Around 40 students graduate every year, but only a few make it to this platform. “Selected works are less about finesse and more about a raw voice,” said Manik Yadav, a professor at the institute.“We picked four students with two works each. The selection was based on performance through the course and their best works were sent. The exhibition allows them to enter the art industry, which is difficult otherwise for someone without connections. The students get the confidence to pursue a career in art on seeing their work on display,” added Yadav.The exhibition provides a platform for graduating students of Abhinav Kala Mahavidyalaya to go beyond their syllabus and network with professionals. “While technical proficiency is our main focus, it is also important to learn to market one’s work. Our students are hoping to learn this from their experience,” said professor Satish Kale.The exhibition recognises emerging artists before they are shaped, filtered and slotted. It gives the audience a chance to see what art looks like before it learns to sell.
