Colours for high flyers

AIRPORTS ARE places where people look for sign boards and information. But then, they also appreciate a bit of art. An art enclave has been created at the Kamaraj Domestic Terminal (KDT) to encourage art appreciation among the employees of the Airports Authority of India (AAI) and also members of the general public.

Christened the ``Art Corner'' this expo at the entrance of the VIP reserved lounge at the KDT, features the work of Ms. S. Swarna, a city-based painter and sculptor, who specialises in traditional forms of ``Lord Ganesha'', symbolic of the various stages of human life and experience. ``To me the reality of today - the complex life style is one that can be lived in great harmony with the concept of Ganesha even though it is far different from the lifestyles of our forefathers. I consider it my greatest privilege to bring Ganesha to the consciousness of all, through a judicious mix of traditional contemporary and abstract motifs,'' says Swarna who holds an M.A. Art and Painting from Mumbai University.

``I work with oil, acrylic, terracotta, copper and bronze with fibre glass. Ganesha, for me is not only a form to be meditated upon, but, the myriad forms, each of infinite detail, are mixed with religious connotations. It led me to a state of confusion and restlessness,'' she says. Her work has in the past won laurels and a scholarship by the Kolkata Chamber of Commerce for Research on Metal Reliefs.

There have been solo exhibitions on Ganesha at Lalit Kala Academi, New Delhi and Chennai besides top five star hotels in the city.

Mr. Sudhir Kumar, Chennai Airport Director says the art corner not only reflects the rich and varied culture of South India but also greets the passengers with a traditional welcome.

By T.S. Shankar

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