Three workshops had been organised for the school children at the KMB venues in the last three months. These include ‘Cuts and Folds’, a paper craft workshop by Arularasan; calligraphy workshop by Narayana Bhattathiri and Batik painting workshop, under the tutelage of Jose Cherian, at Aspinwall, one of the main KMB venues. “The workshops aimed at giving much-needed exposure. They allow the kids to work with different art mediums apart from the conventional art lessons taught in school.
Besides, the participants get to work together as a group in a relaxed and fun-filed environment,” said Manu Joseph, chief coordinator, ABC. Arularasan’s ‘Cuts and Folds’ workshop provided children with fresh ideas on paper craft.
“Children are more creative than the elders, so I just kindle creativity in them without interfering,” said V S D Arularasan, head of department (HOD), painting, at the College of Fine Arts, Kumbakonam. The workshop for children aged 12-13 was conducted jointly by the Kochi Biennale Foundation and the Art By Children (ABC) initiative. The calligraphy workshop was held under the guidance of Narayana Bhattathiri, one of the few practitioners of Malayalam calligraphy.
“The first day of the workshop was an introduction to classical writing and on day two, we looked at some complicated tools through which we could bring out the meanings behind the calligraphic works,” said the layout artist.