Freedom of Expression

It's a walk in the woods,into the sunset,with landscape painter Paramjit Singh.

Its a brush with art,as Paramjit Singh urges 15 artists from the city to paint sans any inhibitions,play on the canvas & in the process explore themselves

It’s a walk in the woods,into the sunset,with landscape painter Paramjit Singh. Flaming orange lights up the bare canvas and with quick,effortless strokes,sans consciousness,he brings black into the picture,creating a canopy of trees and youre transported into the woods. As the canvas waits,Paramjit whose landscapes,with their loaded silence evocative of the other world,have became over the years,a distinct mystical utterance in pictorial terms,moves to another one and its back to nature and its innumerable shades of white,green,black and red. Fifteen other artists from the city,watch the captivating and fascinating process,as they create their own works at the art gallery of the Museum. Paramjit Singh is here for a four-day art workshop organized by the Chandigarh Lalit Kala Akademi,as part of the ongoing Chandigarh Arts and Heritage Festival. Inaugurated on Sunday by BN Goswami,the endeavour,explains Diwan Manna,is to provide an opportunity to citizens to have a first-hand experience of how a work of art takes shape and an occasion to interact with the artists,while at work. This workshop should provide an opportunity to artists to be more experimental and to think liberally,an excuse to try and walk uncharted paths, adds Manna.

Paramjit puts the value of the workshop into perspective,describing it as a chance for artist to explore themselves in the company of art. This is not an art class and Im not a teacher. The freedom of expression is the essence and my fellow artists should paint with honesty,without inhibition and be completely natural, being open to criticism,praise,suggestions is valuable. Art believes the painter,who expresses the esoteric in his landscapes,has no end point or final destination. The pursuit to reach the unknown,smiles Singh inspires him,and its a life-long one,so humility and being natural are integral to the process. And is there a concrete thought before he approaches the canvas? The essence is there in the mind,but there is no form. For instance,here the idea is a walk in the woods,which I am doing on two horizontal canvases simultaneously,but this is not literal,for the form is not pre-decided, Paramjit works in oil and says his leaning towards nature comes from where he grew up. The principle of life for any artist,adds the painter is to be true to oneself and have no ego,subtly directing,reading and listening to your canvas and develop a language that expresses the inner self and in turn,an individual vocabulary of art

Stage is set
As part of the ongoing Chandigarh Arts and Heritage Festival,Neelam Man Singh Chowdhry will conduct a theatre workshop on March 31 at Tagore Theatre. The interaction is only open to actors and artists from the city,who have registered their participation. This is not a performance-oriented event,but a private,intimate workshop,where certain exercises and improvisations will be done during the course of the day. The number is limited to 20 participants and is an attempt to make the actors dip into a fresh approach towards their art.

Parul

Parul is a Principal Correspondent at The Indian Express in Chandigarh. She is a seasoned journalist with over 25 years of experience specializing in public health, higher education, and the architectural heritage of Northern India. Professional Profile Education: Graduate in Humanities with a specialized focus on Journalism and Mass Communication from Panjab University, Chandigarh. Career Path: She began her career covering local city beats and human interest stories before joining The Indian Express in 2009. Over the last decade and a half, she has risen to the rank of Principal Correspondent, becoming the publication’s primary voice on Chandigarh’s premier medical and academic institutions. Expertise: Her reporting is deeply rooted in the institutional dynamics of PGIMER (Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research) and Panjab University. She is highly regarded for her ability to navigate complex administrative bureaucracies to deliver student-centric and patient-centric news. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2024 - 2025) Her recent work highlights critical reporting on healthcare infrastructure, academic governance, and urban culture: 1. Public Health & PGIMER "PGIMER expands digital registry: Centralized patient records to reduce wait times by 40%" (Nov 20, 2025): A detailed look at the digital transformation of one of India's busiest medical institutes to tackle patient influx. "Robotic Surgery at PGI: Why the new urology wing is a game-changer for North India" (Oct 12, 2025): Reporting on the acquisition of state-of-the-art medical technology and its impact on affordable healthcare. "Shortage of life-saving drugs: Inside the supply chain crisis at government pharmacies" (Dec 5, 2025): An investigative piece on the logistical hurdles affecting chronic patients in the tri-city area. 2. Education & Institutional Governance "Panjab University Senate Election: The battle for institutional autonomy" (Dec 18, 2025): In-depth coverage of the high-stakes internal elections and the friction between traditional governance and central reforms. "Research funding dip: How PU’s science departments are navigating the 2025 budget cuts" (Nov 5, 2025): An analysis of the fiscal challenges facing researchers and the impact on India's global academic ranking. 3. Art, Culture & Heritage "Le Corbusier’s legacy in peril: The struggle to preserve Chandigarh’s Capitol Complex" (Dec 22, 2025): A feature on the conservation efforts and the tension between urban modernization and UNESCO heritage status. "Chandigarh Art District: How street murals are reclaiming the city’s grey walls" (Oct 30, 2025): A cultural profile of the local artists transforming the aesthetic of the "City Beautiful." Signature Style Parul is known for her empathetic lens, often centering her stories on the individuals affected by policy—whether it is a student navigating university red tape or a patient seeking care. She possesses a unique ability to translate dense administrative notifications into actionable information for the public. Her long-standing beat experience makes her a trusted source for "inside-track" developments within Chandigarh’s most guarded institutions. X (Twitter): @parul_express ... Read More

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