The true art of living

Like the colours on a palette , artist Lakshmi Sundararajan mixes her passion for art with her enthusiasm to empower others

For 51-year-old Lakshmi Sundararajan, life is full of opportunities if one seeks it rightly. The Bhandup resident has been practicing multiple artwork that includes oil painting, 3D paintings and creative works such as making diyas, rangolis and other decorative items. Moreover, for the past 25 years, Lakshmi has been teaching art to other professionals and people who are economically deprived. In an interview to Cityplus, Laksmi shares the factors that encouraged her to practice multiple disciplines of creativity and how teaching people has brought her wisdom and joy.

The early days
Art has been god’s gift to me. As a child I always loved painting and making decorative articles. I never learnt art from anyone. It was out of my own imagination and observation that I picked up the talent to paint. I enjoyed oil painting and then much later I  took private classes to polish my skills. After this I began teaching art to children. I got an opportunity to work as an art teacher at Arya Vidya Mandir School in Santacruz. The different concepts and colours excited me and I motivated students to use this form of expression with equal passion.

The turning point
Unlike other women artist, I feel blessed that my parents as well as husband always supported my passion and gave me the freedom to pursue it. The liberty they gave me helped me reach higher goals as an artists.
After I shifted to Bhandup, my husband gifted me a place to
practice and teach art. Since
then, there has been no turning back. I practice oil paintings, 3D paintings, make decorative frames and other decorative articles. I held my first exhibition in 1986 and everyone appreciated my creative work. Since then I have hosted a number of exhibitions at various venues.

Experiences abound
Besides practicing art, I also began teaching art to people from different age groups and from varied backgrounds. My students are school going children, retired professionals, doctors, lawyers and others. I have also been teaching people suffering from cancer, and those who suffer from hearing and speech disability. I realised that people with certain disabilities had a unique way of expressing themselves through art. One of my students who is suffering from speech and hearing disability has even taught me sign language. It has always been fun to work with them. I also taught two children
who were mentally challenged.
Teaching art to these students was a new experience by itself and I enjoyed it.

The social angle
After I opened my art classes, I felt the need to give back to society. I started teaching underprivileged women art. After they have picked up the knack of painting, I employ them and pay them for their work. They can also use these new learnt skills to start their own businesses, thus making them self employed and independent.

Exhibitions hosted by Lakshmi
•    Simrosa art gallery
•    World trade centre
•    A private bungalow at Juhu
•    Mithila Hall, Juhu

--Preeti Parekh