ART FOR AWARENESS

Client

Anjali

An initiative by Studio Eksaat | In partnership with Anjali – A Mental Health Rights Organization

In April 2020, Studio Eksaat partnered with Anjali to help them disseminate information and mobilize funds for vulnerable citizens in West Bengal with mental health conditions and in mental health institutions. This initiative invited artists and illustrators to collaborate with us to create art around the complex issues faced by persons with mental health conditions during the Covid 19 lockdown.

Anjali, A Mental Health Rights Organization based in Kolkata, is the first organization in the country to work in partnership with the state government of West Bengal for people with psycho-social disabilities and those in mental institutions. Rather than create parallel systems, Anjali aims to work with the state government, operating inside the state hospital premises, using state infra-structure and professionals.

ART FOR AWARENESS / 01 / JOY

To feel joy is an integral part of being human. As we prepare to face a world post lockdown, we will all search for ways in which we can add joy in our lives.

Contributed by: Lila Deb Pillai, a 4 year old who find joy in colour and bold strokes.

ART FOR AWARENESS / 02 / EMBRACE

Holding ourselves in an embrace is an act of self care and love. With COVID 19 creating havoc with our personal and public selves – we are collectively moving inwards while bracing for what is to come.

Contributed by: Samira Gupta

ART FOR AWARENESS / 03 / VOICES

How do we cope with the voices in our head? Do we silence them or listen to them? Do we seek help or look inwards?

Contributed by: Anjali Kanakia

ART FOR AWARENESS / 04 / LOVE

As we collectively battle the COVID 19 pandemic, many of us have reached out to help and support vulnerable communities which have been severely affected by the lockdown. Individuals and organizations are working together to help reach people in the remotest of areas, with little or no access to healthcare.

Contributed by: Aastha Mittal

ART FOR AWARENESS / 05 / REMINDER

While in quarantine, we still have many ways in which we can reach out to those we love and care about. This piece acts as a gentle reminder to reach out when in need and be there to support those who do.

Contributed by: Vivan Kamath

ART FOR AWARENESS / 06 / TRAPPED

What does it mean to be trapped? As most of us under lockdown are tackling with this feeling now, we must question the idea of being truly trapped. Do we trap ourselves when we give in to preconceived notions and ideas? Trapped within a culture, race, nationality. Within our roles, rituals or social pressures, within religion. trapped within the walls of our mind or our homes.

Contributed by: Ishaan Dasgupta

ART FOR AWARENESS / 07 / CONNECT

Contributed by: Solaiappan Ramaswamy

ART FOR AWARENESS / 08 / MASK

Through generations, women have always worn a metaphorical mask – not allowed to speak or asked for their opinion. With Covid 19 changing the way we interact with each other, the entire world will now have to wear a mask. Perhaps, its time we discussed and changed how we see gender and what we perceive as equality.

Contributed by: Binita Mukherjee

ART FOR AWARENESS / 09 / THE SENTINEL

The Sentinel pays tribute to those who protect us and work on our behalf to ensure that we are safe.

Contributed by: Tamal Bhattacharya

ART FOR AWARENESS / 10 / PLEASE DONT STARE

ocial isolation poses deep psychological challenges for humans as we have an intrinsic tendency to connect with fellow humans. The current situation has forced many of us to connect with each other only through social media. And social media in itself makes it difficult to differentiate between private and public spaces, both emotional and physical. This work deals with our internal conflict between the urge to be “seen” and the invasion of privacy.

Contributed by: Shohini Gupta