[PhotoSparks] “Follow your dream and passion consistently” - Shyamala Ramanand, Akanksha

PhotoSparks is a weekly feature from YourStory, with photographs that celebrate the spirit of creativity and innovation. In this photo essay, we feature some of the beautiful art works at the exhibition titled ‘50 Shades of Black and White,’ at Venkatappa Gallery in Bengaluru.

In the earlier 100 posts, we brought you a wide range of creative photographs from an art fair, world music festival, painting fair, telecom expo, art museum, mobile showcase, math museum, social hackathon, bookstore, co-working space, sensorium, international design week, flower show, outdoor ads, startup roadshow, computer museum, startup T-shirts, business cards, art therapy, startup festival, Diwali rangoli, Vesak, jazz festival, modern art gallery, ecopreneurs, painter-poets, health activists, eNGOs and digital innovators.

Artist and curator Shyamala Ramanand is the founder of the creative platform Akanksha, and producer of the exhibition ‘50 Shades of Black and White’ at Venkatappa Gallery in Bengaluru. “As my father served in the armed forces, I had the opportunity to travel the length and breadth of the country,” she recalls; the diversity of cultures, religion and languages left a lasting impression on her mind.

After 17 long years of successful corporate life, she branched out into painting, and has presented her art works at Chitra Santhe, Renaissance Art Gallerie, India Art Festival, and art camps in Kochi and Dharwad. She launched Akanksha in 2013 as a platform for artists who are self taught and manage other professional life, but are able to devote time to follow their passion.

The current exhibition features 50 artists from Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, including Lalitha Suri, Mamta Garg, Nivedita Gouda, Prahlad Hegde, Shruthi Kadiyal, Umesh Shebe, Usha Rai, Usha Shantaram, Vandana Krishnan, Vijayamala, Bhavna S, and Vijayshree Umanand.

“Troubled times are testing phases and call for introspection from within and adaptation to an outer atmosphere. Working in groups often helps create a space for artists and others too. Community development for artists is very important to sustain rather than work in isolation,” she explained in an interview at the exhibition.

“Follow your dream and passion consistently. It’s your expression and no one can question them. So keep dreaming,” Shyamala advises. Fitting words of inspiration, indeed, for artists as well as entrepreneurs!

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