Tarika Ram Kalpa Druma Art of Happiness

At 18, Tarika has demonstrated a maturity and depth of thought that’s truly remarkable. Her work is a wonderful confluence of art, psychology, philosophy and personal reflection - Kavitha Dutt, Joint MD, KCP

This series of art works is a big leap of faith for Tarika for she has moved away from her comfort zone of 'Paintings' in her three previous solo exhibitions on Thirukkural to Tapestry and Textile in this exhibition - Srivats Ram, MD, Wheels India and Tarika's father

   Tarika flanked by her parents, Srivats and Aruna

It is just past 3pm on Saturday (August 30) evening. Unmindful of the light drizzle, security personnel in uniform have gathered outside the Kalpa Druma Art Gallery on Cathedral Road in Chennai ahead of the launch of the ‘Art of Happiness’ exhibition of Tarika Ram. After three solo exhibitions based on the couplets from the Thirukkural, she has graduated to the next level as her appa Srivats Ram, MD of Wheels India is to reveal at the launch event.

 MM Murugappan considers Tarika one of his fav artists

An hour later, the Chief Guest of the evening Kavitha Dutt, Joint MD of KCP arrives at the art gallery. Tarika welcomes her and takes her to two of her special art works explaining the thought process behind the concept.

Welcoming the gathering Srivats Ram said that this series of art works is a big leap of faith for Tarika for she has moved away from her comfort zone of paintings in her three previous solo exhibitions on Thirukkural to Tapestry and Textile in this exhibition based on the theme of happiness.

Tarika’s grandparents S Ram (Chairman Wheels India) and Gita Ram lit the Kuthuvilakku along with the Chief Guest of the evening.

Speaking about the art work, Kavitha Dutt said, “Through Tarika’s art works, we are not only invited to look for happiness but also to reflect on its meaning to see it, feel it and even better understand it. Tarika at just 18 has demonstrated a maturity and depth of thought that’s truly remarkable. Her work is a wonderful confluence of art, psychology, philosophy and personal reflection.”

                                       

Diana's favourite Art student

Tarika’s art teacher Diana Shatish is all excited that her student of the last 8 years has graduated to the next phase in her art journey. She said that she remembered Shri MM Murugappan (Executive Chairman, Murugappa Group) telling her at the previous art exhibition that Tarika was one of his favourite artists. “After what I have seen of Tarika over the last 18 months, I can now say that she is my favourite student. She is now moving into the adult world in arts which is highly competitive but from what I have seen here, she is ready to move up into the next step in this steep ladder.”

Only recently, Akhil, son of Chess legend Viswanathan Anand, another student of Diana, had presented his art works. Anand was present on this evening along with his wife and son.

Another surprise visitor at the launch event was the popular art director Thotta Tharani. He was thrilled at seeing the quality of the art works of this teenager.

A story of positivity, happiness and relationships

Diana said that each of the 30art works tell a story of positivity, happiness and relationships. She unveiled her favourite art work from the 30 to the audience that had gathered in good numbers on the evening “In her previous three exhibitions, she had presented abstract paintings of how she saw the messages from the Thirukkural. In this particular favourite of mine, she has used the gown when she was just 11 months old along with some of the old clothes of her family members to express her views on happiness, which I think is a very unique to present this emotional feeling.”

Historian Pradeep Chakravarthi explained to N Ravi (Director, The Hindu- Kasturi & Sons) the intricacies that went into one of the art works and how it would have required great amount of patience to have come out with that particular piece of art.

It is almost 7pm when one of the last visitors on the evening took Srivats Ram by surprise. It was Arjun, the original owner of the building dating back to the 1950s. Most of the guests had left by then even as Arjun walked into the gallery. Srivats took this visitor around explaining to him the thought process of Tarika behind each of the art works and then on enquiry found that Arjun’s family was the original owners of this building and the next. “We grew up here right in this building before our forefathers sold this place to the famous Bombay Halwa House who later sold it to the current owners – Kalpa Druma. We have nostalgic memories of this place with our house being flanked on one side by an Iyengar family and on another by an Iyer family”, he told Srivats Ram.

He also recalled his connect with cricketer and owner of TS Mahalingam & sons, TS Ravishankar (Ravi's wife was present on the evening at the launch). There was a famous corporation ground down the road where residents of this locality played tennis ball cricket (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2020/12/k-ravishankar-alwarpet-tsm.html).

Original owner of the now Kalpa Druma building - Arjun with Srivats 

For over three hours, Tarika had gone around the gallery explaining each of her art collection to the high profile members who had gathered this evening. She rolled out a couplet from the Thirukkural and showed how she had converted the message from that to an art of Happiness. Another set of art works she explained was one that showcased as to how we have to be grateful for what has been given to us in this life.

Her grandmother Gita Ram, the Chairperson of the Craft Council of India, is pleased with what Tarika has presented and how each of the art works has come out. 

A few of the visitors suggest to Srivats Ram that he should place a couple of these arts on Happiness at his work place for it would remind him of the need to be happy in an uncertain global scenario that now prevails following the Tariff laid out by the US. He nods in agreement!!!

It is well past 7pm and all the guests and the visitors have left for the day. Diana Shatish is particularly pleased as she tells Srivats and Aruna (Tarika’s amma) that she has received positive feedback from the who’s who of the art world and that they believe that Tarika holds a lot of promise as she moves into the adult phase in her life.

A visibly delighted art mentor, Diana, said that Tarika's works are more than visual displays. "They are deeply woven with threads of love, heritage and culture and enduring relationships that resonate with all of us. Like this tree of life( pointing to that favourite art work), a poignant work tree of life, which for me serves as the heart of this exhibition, this tapestry carries profound sentimental value."

"This piece is a tapestry of cherished memories, crafted from cloth fragments lovingly collected from her family—pieces from her grandparents, her parents, her aunt, and beyond. Each fragment, carefully sewn together, forms a vibrant mosaic that speaks to the enduring bonds of family. It feels like a family heirloom, precious and timeless, capturing the essence of relationships that live forever in our hearts", Diana said.

Tarika said that she is ever grateful for the support she has received over the years from her family members including her amma who has coached her right from her childhood and in 'Happiness' sketched out her family members on a glass (photo above)

This section wishes Tarika the best in her art career.