Another Series of Wall Paintings at Chennai Central Railway Station by NIFT, Chennai, 2016

One year after I completed the wall paintings at Chennai central Railway Station in February 2015, it is good to see another series of wall paintings done by the students and faculty of National Institute of Fashion Technology, Chennai done in February 2016. 

When I was contacted for the painting this time by Chennai Central authorities, I was out of India. While next series of more art work and murals were being planned at different railway stations within Chennai along with other faculty and students of NIFT, Chennai, I had to go out of India. Though I missed to be physically present this year, it is really good to see that my effort was recognised and Faculty and students of NIFT, Chennai, were again given this opportunity for creating art in the public spaces of one of Chennai's prime locations. 

Am very happy to see that the first year (Foundation Programme) students and team NIFT, under the guidance of their faculty Mr. V.R. Karthikeyarayan and Mr. Thomas Samuel did this wonderful, colourful series of paintings at Chennai Central Railway Station. And it is always good to see something good that you started, continues to grow and spread. I am sure that more good work is about to follow. Hope it becomes a legacy :)

Kudos to the creative and hard-working team of NIFT, Chennai.

Photo and Video Courtesy: Students of NIFT, Chennai

Update: https://swachhbharat.mygov.in/activities/wall-painting-chennai-central-station-niftchennai-1

www.seemakumar.in

Wish you a very Happy New Year 2016

Wish you all a very happy, peaceful, joyful and prosperous New Year 2016.

May you have abundance of joy; love that overflows; wealth enough for all your needs and more to help the ones in need; gratitude so that you can cherish what you have; and a mind at peace to enjoy all your blessings.

Best wishes
Seema Kumar
http://www.facebook.com/seemakumar13 | www.seemakumar.in 

2015 Hignlights

2015 has been an eventful year for me at Chennai.

Started with the wall painting at Chennai Central in Jan 2015 (http://seemakumar.blogspot.in/2015/07/felicitation-by-chennai-division-of.html); my Hindi poetry collection "Parag aur Pankhudiyan" was released in Sept 2015 ( http://lalpili.blogspot.in/2015/10/blog-post.html); among other memorable events.

Chennai rain and flood was another unforgettable experience. As the year 2015 comes to an end, I would like to thank all my near and dear ones, family, friends, colleagues, neighbours, acquaintances, for being there for me.

Thank you all for liking my FB page, too: http://www.facebook.com/seemakumar13

Wish you all a very happy, joyous, healthy, and prosperous New Year 2016.

Wishing all your choicest dreams come true. May you get all your heart truly desires; hopes and dreams for the future; wishes that keep coming true; a wonderful life with no regrets; loved ones always by your side; and everything that mean a lot to you.

http://www.facebook.com/seemakumar13 | www.seemakumar.in

Felicitation by Chennai Division of Southern Railway for Wall Art at Chennai Central

Felicitation of NIFT Chennai faculty and Director by Chennai Division
of Southern Railway for Wall Art at Chennai Central

Continuing from my previous post Wall Art at Chennai Central Railway Station in News, here is an update. On 9th July 2015, the Divisional Railway Manager (DRM) organised a felicitation ceremony for the painting. Felicitation by DRM, Chennai Division, Southern Railway, for mural painting at Chennai Central Railway Station covering a total wall area of about 900 sq. ft., as three parts of the wall, with three different subject matter, started 31st Jan and completed 23 Feb 2015. The DRM felicitated the Artist (me) and the Director of NIFT, Chennai, Dr. Anitha Mabel Manohar for supporting this voluntary initiative of mural painting at Chennai Central Railway Station.

As mentioned in my last post, I was invited by Southern Railway, Chennai Division “to create art work at Chennai Central Railway Station to improve the aesthetics and visual appeal of the heritage structure”. This was under shramdaan for Swachh Bharat Abhiyan. Given below are some more visuals of the painting.

The first day - blank wall before stating the mural painting.

Part 1 of Wall Painting at Chennai Central -
inspired by Banana plantations of rural India

Part 2 of Wall Painting at Chennai Central -
inspired by geometric non-objective art

Part 3 of Wall Painting at Chennai Central
- inspired by lines

Pandit Ravi Shankar's Mermerising Music Compositions

One of my favourite music these days is Pandit Ravi Shankar's Tarana. I find it just amazing and can listen to it any time and innumerable times. I also listen to this during working or writing. Mersmerising!

Another one is Shanti-Mantra by Pandit Ravi Shankar which I like to listen a lot, specially at the beginning of the day. Another amazing and mesmerising music composition.

After these two, I listen to a lot of other albums and compositions by the Sitar maestro Pandit Ravi Shankar , his daughter Anoushka Shankar and other Indian classical musicians.

As a child, I was introduced to Indian Classical Music (Vocal), along with Rabindra Sangeet and Nazrul Geeti by my Bengali music teacher who used to come home to teach me and my siblings. I always had an interest in; however, over the years, classical music had receded in the background. Thanks to these compositions, my interest in classical music has revived and I actively listen to Indian Classic Music, both vocal and instrumental, and enjoy it.

Wall Art at Chennai Central Railway Station in News

Wall painting at Chennai Central Railway station had kept me so busy, along with office work and other things, that this post has been long overdue. Well, just wanted to share regarding this recent wall painting project which I was working on. I was Invited by Southern Railway​ (India)​, Chennai Division, “to create art work at Chennai Central Railway Station to improve the aesthetics and visual appeal of the heritage structure”. This was ​to be done as a voluntary service (shramdaan​)​ for Swachh Bharat ​(Clean India) ​Mission​ that has been launched by Indian Prime Minister​.

I started painting on a blank wall on 31st January 2015. Many people passing by stopped to talk and ask about the painting. The News 7 (Tamil​​) TV Channel approached me for an interview when I was painting the first part of the wall at the station on 4th Feb 2015 and featured about the painting in their 7 pm prime time news on the same day. This news clip Swachh Bharat Mission: Woman artist beautifies Chennai Central Station available online on this link and you can see below as well.

The New Indian Express, in it's supplement 'City Express', Chennai, Saturday, 7 February 2015 published about the wall painting that I was doing at Chennai Central railway station in their article NIFT Professor Paints a 'Clean Picture' at Central. Even though they got my designation wrong (should be Associate Professor, NIFT), thanks to the newspaper for recognising the effort. 

News about wall painting in the New Indian Express' 
supplement 'City Express', Chennai, 7th Feb. 2015

New Indian Express' supplement 'City Express', Chennai, 7th Feb. 2015, writes
about Chennai Central wall painting by Seema Kumar, Associate Professor, NIFT

The mural painting was done as three parts of the wall, as three different compositions from 31st Jan to 23rd Feb 2015, not each day during this period as I also had classes and office work to take care of. Although it has been physically very tiring but mentally a very fulfilling activity. Here are some photographs showing the entire stretch of the wall, the three parts, and each of the parts separately, as well.

Overall view of the painted wall at Chennai Central Railway Station
Artist: Seema Kumar, Associate Professor, NIFT

Painted stretch of the wall at Chennai Central Railway Station

The wall painting and NIFT was mentioned again in another article Railways Opens up New Platform for Artistic Palettes, published by The New Indian Express, in it's supplement 'City Express', Chennai,19th February 2015, where the focus was on the effort taken by Railways. During the same time when I was invited from NIFT, Chennai, for working on the Chennai Central wall painting, other initiatives like the Chennai Street Art Festival was going on supported by Southern Railways' Chennai Division, about which this article mentions, though both were different initiatives.

News about wall painting in the New Indian Express'
supplement 'City Express', Chennai, 19th Feb. 2015,

There is a lot more if I start writing about my experience at the station while doing the painting, or sharing the photographs of different phases, but maybe in later posts. Do share your views and feedback about this wall. Hope it helps to motivate people and travellers crossing the Chennai Central Railway Station to keep the surrounding areas clean and beautiful :)

Completed wall painting at Chennai Central Railway Station
Artist: Seema Kumar, Associate Professor, NIFT 

Update: 

http://seemakumar.blogspot.com/2015/07/felicitation-by-chennai-division-of.html

http://seemakumar.blogspot.com/2016/02/another-series-of-wall-paintings-at.html 

Happy New Year 2015

Happy New Year 2015

From: Seema Kumar

www.seemakumar.in

Continuing Line Drawing Series - In Vector

Line drawings series - with vector graphics

The line drawings have been an area of interest for me for. Hand been doing some line drawings with hand. These drawings are in the same series with similar context while experimenting with vector graphics on computer. 

Line drawings series - with vector graphics

Research Paper: Colour and Clothing for Patients and Well-Being

One of my previous posts was about “Reflections 2014”, International Conference on Fashion, Retail and Management (ICFRM) at NIFT, Hyderabad. I had mentioned about my visit to NIFT, Hyderabad to present my research paper titled “Colour and Clothing for Patients and Well-Being" at “Reflections 2014”, International Conference on Fashion, Retail and Management (ICFRM) which was organised by National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT), Hyderabad, from 9th to 11th January 2014 at Hyderabad. The paper was published in Conference Proceedings, ISBN 978-81-7800-297-2. Given below is an abstract of the research paper:

Colour and Clothing for Patients and Well-Being

Abstract: All objects around us have colour and all colours are associated with different vibrations that impact us in one way or the other. Whether we know it or not, colours seem to have a psychological and physiological impact on us and our preference of colours reveal a lot about our psychological make-up. The unconscious psychological and physiological impact of colours on mood, behaviour and well-being is still being researched upon. However, from time immemorial, not only artists and designers, ancient cultures, psychologists and colour therapists acknowledge the impact of colours surrounding us on our mood and well-being.
Clothing is universal, though the type, style, colours and design of clothing may vary depending on different cultures, societies, needs and occasions. Clothing is an object that covers human body at all times. As all clothing has colour, it may affect our mood and well-being in some way or the other. Taking a multi-disciplinary approach, this paper explores psychological and physiological impact of colours on patients, and the relationship between colour, clothing and their well being.

Reflections 2014 - Conference Proceedings Publication

Colour and Clothing for Patients and Well Being presented and published in "Reflections 2014" - Conference Proceedings Publication

Keywords:
Clothing and health, Colour and moods, Colour and well-being, Patients and Clothing, Colour psychology.

For more details on this research paper, you may contact me.

www.seemakumar.in  

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"Reflections 2014" - Conference Proceedings Publication

Pen and Ink Drawing : Manthan (मंथन)

Title: Manthan  |  Medium: Pen and Ink on Paper  | Size: A3
 © Seema Kumar    |    www.seemakumar.in

In continuation with my previous post, posting here another drawing that I made. This drawing with pen and ink on paper, A3 size, is titled Manthan. Manthan (मंथन) is a Hindi word meaning churning or deep pondering over something.

Like I mentioned in my previous post, I feel art is self expression and does not need an explanation. The viewers can interpret it in different ways. However, when i was asked to write a note with perception of this work, this is what I wrote:

Our human mind is always working, churning, thinking, meditating - consciously or unconsciously. An innocent girl, even at young age, is a bundle of thoughts and imagination. I have tried to portray this using lines, repetition, rhythm, transitional lines, and subtle changes in the colours of the ink used for the drawing.  

© Seema Kumar    |    www.seemakumar.in 

Drawing with Mix Media: Dawn

There are days when  wanted to draw and paint, but did not get enough time. Working with wet mediums required more time and space, so I decided I will re-start sketching, doodling, scribbling, or just anything to be regular with drawing and painting. And I started working with dry mediums like pen, pencil, pencil colours. etc.

Title: Dawn  |   Medium: Mix media on paper   |    Size: A3
© Seema Kumar    |    www.seemakumar.in

Here is a photo of one of those drawings which I titled as Dawn. with mix media on paper, A3 size. I started with black ink pen and later included colour pencils, some of my favourite dry mediums.

I believe that art is self expression that can be interpreted differently by different people, and does not need an explanatory note However, I wrote a note for this one as it was required for an exhibition entry. Here is the note:

Dawn is calm, cool, meditative. But beyond the calm surface, there are millions of waves and colours radiating from the eternal light source, the life giving force, even though it is not visible. The invisible waves and colours have been expressed in this work. 

Do let me know your feedback and comments for my work.

© Seema Kumar    |    www.seemakumar.in

Happy Durga Pooja

May this festival that reinforces the hope of victory of good over evil help us in our own victory of good over the evil and demons within us. Wish you all a very Happy Durga Pooja.

Exhibition 'Hues' during 'Fashion Spectrum 2014' at NIFT, Chennai.

'Fashion Spectrum 2014' was conducted from 28th February to 1st March 2014 at the National Institute of Fashion Technology, NIFT Campus, Chennai. This is an event for and by the students. Apart from the other activities and exhibitions during 'Fashion Spectrum' by students, faculty members and staff of NIFT, Chennai, also exhibited their work at an exhibition titled 'Hues'.

'Hues' -  2014, Exhibition at NIFT, Chennai

Below are some photos of my past work displayed in 'Hues' at Fashion Spectrum 2014, NIFT, Chennai.

Left: 1. Watercolour  | 2. Award winning Collage 'After Study'
Right - Artist Print (A/P): 1 to 4 from top - Lino Cut | 5. Woodcut
By Seema Kumar

1. Pencil Study of Hand | 2, 3, 4. Portraits in Oil Colour
By Seema Kumar

Top: 1. Tempra on paper  |  Bottom: 1,2 - Watercolour
By Seema Kumar

1. Pencil Study of Hand | 2, 3, 4. Potraits in Oil Colour
and Seema Kumar

I had written earlier in 2006 and posted photos about the 'Fashion Spectrum' at NIFT, Delhi, in which I had participated on behalf of a sponsor company, Malwa Industries Ltd., where I was working. Malwa's Denim division was a sponsor in the Fashion Design Show and some other events during the Fashion Spectrum and had showcased its Denim Collection. Will post more photos of 'Fashion Spectrum 2014', Chennai, later.


Website: http://www.seemakumar.in
Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/seemakumar13 

Child Art - Flower Pot Painting

Paper flowers made by Tejal

My little daughter Tejal got a birthday gift which was a kit for making paper flowers and had a white flower pot. She just loved the gift as she likes art and craft activities. She made the paper flowers completely on her own, without my help. You can see the picture of the flowers in the white pot. 

Later, she wanted to paint the white pot and I helped her by guiding her how to use acrylic colours on the pot. Rest, she painted on her own. Here are the pictures of what she created out of the white flower pot. 

Child art - flower pot painting

Flower pot painted by Tejal

Visit to Dastkari Haat Crafts Bazaar 2014 at Kalakshetra, Chennai

 Dastkari Haat Crafts Bazaar 2014 at Kalakshetra, Chennai 

A Visit to Dastkari Haat Crafts Bazaar 2014 at Kalakshetra Foundation, Chennai, was suddenly planned when I was in NIFT, like any other working day, on 27th Jan 2014. As it was planned for the same day of the visit, I cold not carry my camera and just took a few photographs from my mobile camera.  Dastkari Haat Crafts Bazaar 2014was organised from 24th January to 2nd February, 214. Students and faculty at NIFT seemed to be very interested in visiting the exhibition so I also went along with them to see what kind of exhibition it was. Moreover, I am always interested to go and explore new places and visit places and exhibitions related to art and craft. 

Carpet seller at  Dastkari Haat Crafts Bazaar 2014, Chennai 

This exhibition is organised by Dastkari Haat Samiti showcasing and selling different types of crafts products. This exhibition reminded me of Surajkund Crafts Mela about which I have already posted on my blog with photographs and it is a much bigger crafts bazaar and older. However, it was good to see that such exhibitions are happening in Chennai and craftsmen from all over India participating. It had products ranging from fabrics, apparel carpets, to ceramic, glass, metal, terracotta, jewellery, bags, etc. along with food counter and a stage where live folk dance performance was going on. 

A view of  Dastkari Haat Crafts Bazaar 2014, Chennai 

For the next time, I would like to go and spend more time there and also go with my camera. I can see more photos posted on the Facebook page of Dastakri Haat Samiti for 2014 exhibition, so you can go and check out more. 

Eight Years of Blogging and 'Seema's Corner'

It has been eight years of blogging for me. I created this blog in January 2006 and wrote some random posts, shared some things about my life, events, thoughts, dreams, wishes and introspection. It was not on any one specific subject, but it was about some things in my world. That is why I called it 'Seema's Corner" I still write once in a while. Sometimes, the posts have been regular and frequent, at other times, less frequent. I also started my Hindi Blog named 'मेरी कृति' (Meri Kriti) in February 2006.                                                                                                                                                                                            

Seema's Corner

As years went by, I also created my website. However, I still prefer to use blogger for my blogs, for the simple reason that it is very user-friendly and I like the features that are simple to use without too much of technical know how.

I have already written some posts on my reasons and motivations behind blogging, like in this post One year of blogging... one year of 'Seema's Corner' which I wrote when I completed one year of blogging and later, on completion of five years of blogging, I wrote Five Years of Blogging and 'Seema's Corner'. So I will not repeat the same here.

I would only like to thank you all who still come back once in a while to read my blogs, to all who have come earlier to read, to all who supported me, motivated me or criticised me and taught me new things. Do keep coming back with your feedback, comments and suggestions.

THANK YOU :)

Pongal Celebrations at NIFT Chennai

Decoration in progress for Pongal celebrations at NIFT, Chennai

It is good to see students of NIFT, Chennai, actively participating in all kind of functions and cultural activities being organised in the campus. Pongal was one such celebration where the students, faculty and staff participated in Indian ethnic attire, mostly is traditional south Indian ethnic attire. The dress code for the occasion was South Indian Traditional Clothes – Veshti and Shirt / Kurta for men; Paavadai and Daavani/ Saree for women.

Pongal celebrations at NIFT, Chennai

Pongal is a harvest festival celebrated by Tamil people in the month of January. Magh Bihu, Pongal, Lohri, Makar Sankranti, Uttarayana, Khichdi are some of the other festivals that celebrated across India at the same time, either on 14th January or one one of more days between 13th to 16th January.

Bharat Natyam performance by Fashion Design student

The programme included performance of Bharat Natyam, Group Dance, Folk Dance, Design Competition, and Debate. Everyone was served Pongal for eating.

Folk Dance performance

Group Dance performance by the winners of Zonal Indiafest

Lighting the Diyas

Students in Indian Ethnicwear

Happy Pongal

A lot of efforts from the side of the coordinators for student development activities and the support of the management and staff.