EXCURSIONS

‘A visit to a museum is a search for beauty, truth and meaning in our lives. It is a place where time is transformed into space.’

Classes  XI and XII                                                                                              

  Kiran Nadar Museum of Arts                                                                                

The students of classes XI and XII were taken for an excursion to the Kiran Nadar Museum of Arts exhibiting modern and contemporary works from India and sub-continent. The visit was organized  as part of the endeavour to enhance the skills and provide hands on experiences to the learners  in art and craft. 100 students exhibiting consistent and praiseworthy performance in art and craft were selected. The Curator briefed them about ‘Shantiniketan’ the Art University started by the Nobel Laureate Rabindra Nath Tagore. He then showed them caricatures of many historical figures, politicians and sports persons like Sardar Vallabhai Patel, Jawahar Lal Nehru, Barack Obama, Bal Thackeray,Sachin Tendulkar and many more. The children were filled with awe and excitement on seeing the special exhibition ‘Structuring Form: The Innovative Vigour Of Mahendra Raj’ detailing seven architectural projects raised by the structural engineering genius of Mahendra Raj. The projects included Hall of Nation, Akbar Hotel and NCDC office building. The museum exemplifies the dynamic relationship between art and culture and blends traditional art with the contemporary. The gallery has the artworks of various renowned artists on display. Students saw sculptures depicting the damage due to wars with traumatized emotions captured vividly, Pen art using pen strokes and many objects of Papier Mache depicting the symbols of unity. Each piece of art had its own hidden story when seen with love and compassion. The purpose of the visit was to help the students engage in the arts community and enable them to see the value of creative work. The visit gave them an opportunity to get involved and explore their own creativity, which is something that many don't get the chance to do.

National Gallery of Modern Art                                                                                          

The students were taken on a guided tour to the National Gallery of Modern Art that has preserved the work from 1857.They were elated to see the unique collection of paintings, sculptures, graphics and photographs mainly by Indian artists coupled with the works of international modern artists that form a testimony to a rich and resplendent past even as they pay tribute to the present. The students were in awe of the fantastic treasure trove that spanned from miniature paintings to modernist interventions and au courant contemporary. The walkthrough was certainly interesting even for an amateur.  Art work of old Indian masters like Raja Ravi Varma. Abanindranath Tagore, as well as modernists like Amrita Sher–Gill adorned the walls of the museum. Paintings of European artists like Tilly Kettle, William Hodges and many more  was a feast to the eyes. The students also saw some objects of minor arts that have come to NGMA gratis from the Government treasury. These are the regalia-ceremonial chairs, silver salvers, richly embroidered velvet drapes, various silver objects that were made for the 1011 Delhi Durbar. The visit to the Gallery gave students the opportunity to explore the textures of paintings up close, the drapery dangling off marble statues and the scale of a large canvas. This enabled them to put art in a completely different perspective from viewing it on a phone or a laptop. Seeing art made by their own culture and the cultures of others, helped them contextualize their place in the world. The students got an insight into the ideologies held in the past and saw how the human experience has changed over time. The students felt enriched by their visit to the quarters that preserve the legacy of humanity.