It must be a horribly dark world without colours and without light. All you would be able to see are different shades of dark. You experience the world through smell and noise. But imagine the tragedy of childhood if you cannot see the birds, butterflies, gardens and rainbows. Indeed, it would be a dark world.
It is with a group of such special children that Krupa Shah has spent the last two weeks. Helping them find an expression and a different world with colours. Krupa Shah is an artist with a mission. She feels that Art has a higher purpose in life. And it should be used to give expressions to different issues and social ethos.
Krupa says, “As an artist I know that you don’t need eyes to paint. You need passion and an expression. It is with this in mind, that I help the blind children to paint.”
She has been conducting a workshop with the children at Happy Home in Worli, Mumbai. She says, “Everyday is a challenge. Painting is a new concept for them. we hold their hands for the first time. And slowly, they find their own expression.”
But how can children who don’t see colours paint?
Krupa has found an ingenious method for this. She uses a set of ten colours. The colours are made of natural extract oils. And a fragrance is added to each colour to help children identify them. For instance, red smells of strawberry, brown colour smells of chocolate and white colour smells of vanilla. In this way the concepts of colour are taught to the children.
Krupa feels that Art is an important medium in everyday life. She says, “These children already have an inferiority complex because of their lack of vision. Painting makes them feel they are no different. It gives them confidence and happiness. Soon the children don’t even need any help. The ability to create something on their own helps them gain self-dependence and self-confidence.”
Indeed, to be able to create a painting without seeing colours must be a cathartic and magical experience for these blind children.
