The Good Earth

TellusArt spares a thought for the environment,reaching out through art

In the chain of life,we are a vital link — to keep it intact,to keep it moving forward. The earth is in a crisis and so are we. The need of the hour is to preserve the planet,secure life and our future. Thinking of a better tomorrow is TellusArt,a Non-Government Organisation based in Sweden,which strives to bring together people who can communicate about issues that need collective thought and action. “We do it through painting exhibitions,art exchange workshops,discussions,films and television,’’ smiles Ajmer Sandhu,the brain behind TellusArt,as he introduces his friends and the core team,Namrata Tandon,Kishore Chawla and Harpreet Walia. “We were all together at the Art College here and it’s a fantastic platform to share ideas and issues,’’ shares Namrata,taking you around the exhibition Fusion 10,which has artists from Sweden,Punjab,Haryana,Himachal,Chandigarh display their art works. But the most captivating part of the show is the work of children on environment issues. Clear,thought-provoking,innocent; from the butterflies to the tiger,mountains to rivers,flowers to forests,they have a touching sensitivity,which comes out in plethora of colours.

Giving feelings a perspective was Dr Mike Pandey,film-maker and conservationist. “Art is a great way of communication and the visual medium is the best way to reach out to a large audience,’’ Mike’s film Shores of Silence had the audience stunned. On the discovery of whale sharks in India,it was a self-funded film that not only won awards,but helped bring a legislation on marine species in India. “It has to be a collective effort,and education through simple,absorbing means must begin from the pre-school level. We need to sensitise children for they are the keepers of tomorrow. Working along with John Abraham on a feature-length documentary on Save the Tiger Campaign,Mike’s affair with nature is continuous,“and intense,’’ Mike moves on.

The exhibition is on at PU Museum.