While Joqauin Phoenix, Renee Zellweger and Brad Pitt may be drafting acceptance speeches for next month's BAFTA ceremony, in a foundry west of London, metalworkers are equally busy crafting the gold trophies that the stars hope to win.

As the awards race heats up, BAFTA statues are forged from molten metal

You Wenfeng, a Hezhen craftswoman making clothing from skin of fish, was not yet born when her kinsmen were thrown into labour camps during Japan's occupation of Manchuria. But just as her ancestors fought the threat of extinction after Japan's invasion decades ago, You, 68, is on a mission to keep the skills from vanishing into the history books.

China's 'mermaid descendant' weaves final garments from skin of fish

Oscar-winners Renee Zellweger, Charlize Theron, Nicole Kidman, Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones were among Hollywood A-listers who walked the silver carpet at the Screen Actors Guild awards (SAG) on Sunday (January 19) evening in Los Angeles.

Hollywood superstars arrive for the SAG awards in Los Angeles

Christian Dior took the fashion world back to ancient Greece on Monday (January 20) with vapourous peplum-style gowns and shimmering golden numbers at its Haute Couture show, part of a twice-yearly showcase of one-of-a-kind outfits by top designers in Paris.

Dior's Grecian goddesses kick off Paris fashion extravaganza

South Korean thriller "Parasite" was the upset winner at the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) awards on Sunday, while Joaquin Phoenix and Renee Zellweger were named best actors, cementing their roles as frontrunners at the Oscars next month.

"The momentum is building," "Parasite" director Bong Joon Ho says after SAG win

The Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Awards kicked off on Sunday (January 19) with a celebrity-filled silver carpet at Los Angeles' Shrine Auditorium. Once again, sustainability was a key factor at the awards show with plant-based food being served to the stars.

Success, speeches, sustainability and Meghan and Harry the talk of SAG silver carpet

As thoughts of Australia's fire crisis hung in the air, hundreds of hip-shaking and wig-wearing Elvis Presley impersonators and fans of the late King of Rock and Roll began their annual pilgrimage to the Elvis Festival in outback Australia on Thursday (January 9).

Bushfires won't stop Elvis enthusiasts as they rock and roll to Australian town

Two Taiwanese artists divided by age, geography and art forms, depict the drama in the self-ruled island's political scene ahead of a heated presidential election.

Different strokes, same election: Taiwan artists draw presidential candidates in contrasting medium

The fashion designer behind the Ikalook label is 34-year-old Namissa Thera whose artistic ambition is to bring back the 'Mali' into everyday smart wear.

The designer keeping Mali's women trendy and authentic

In Harbin, five penguins were out on Tuesday (January 7) to show people how to walk properly on a snowy day.

Penguins in Harbin show you how to walk on snow

Artists from around the world flocked to one of China's coldest cities to compete in the annual ice sculpting competition, using blocks of ice from the nearby Songhua river.

Ice sculpture artists compete in annual China ice festival

A cave painting found on Indonesia's island of Sulawesi, depicting human-like figures hunting animals, appears to be the earliest known pictorial record of story-telling, according to a study by a team of Australian and Indonesian researchers.

Indonesian cave art is earliest known record of "story telling," researchers say

As the roar of cannons boomed across the field on Saturday (November 30), men in military uniform clashed, firing at each other and reenacting one of the greatest battles in modern history.

Czech village hosts Napoleon's Battle of Austerlitz reenactment

A 17th-century copy of Leonardo da Vinci's iconic portrait "Mona Lisa" was sold on Tuesday at a Sotheby's auction house in Paris for 552,000 euros ($611,560.80), smashing its initial valuation of 70,000 and 90,000 euros (77,000 to 99,000 U.S. dollars).

Replica of Da Vinci's Mona Lisa sells for 553,000 euros

One of the last five known concert posters from the Beatles 1966 Shea Stadium show is hitting the auction block.

Actor puts his rare Beatles' concert poster on the auction block

The "Mona Lisa" returned to its original room on Monday (October 7) at the Louvre Museum after two months of renovations in the hall where other Renaissance paintings are displayed.

Mona Lisa takes back its corner of the Louvre after renovation

<p>In the dilapidated offices of Afghanistan's state-run film board, where old movie reels are stacked in rusting canisters, Sahraa Karimi heads the all-male team she hopes will help drag the nation's cinema from the lingering shadow of Taliban rule.</p>

<p>"It is a very difficult position to be in, because I came to an office that had almost nothing, destroyed, so I need to build it again," said Karimi, a 36-year-old movie director whose female-led picture "Hava, Maryam, Ayesha" premiered this month at the Venice Film Festival.</p>

<p>During its 1970s heyday, Afghanistan's film industry was vibrant: a slew of movies&nbsp;including the hit "Mardha Ra Qawl Ast" (Men keep their promises) dealt with themes of love, romance and power relations.</p>

<p>But all that ended after the Soviet invasion of 1979, as filmmakers were pushed into propaganda, and the arrival of the Taliban&nbsp;who banned film and music under their savage rule of 1996-2001.</p>

<p>The Islamist hardliners systematically destroyed movie reels and music tapes, smashed television sets, and anyone caught watching films faced harsh punishments including flogging.</p>

<p>After the Taliban's ouster, the formerly prestigious Afghan Film board was resurrected but it has long languished, largely neglected, with a string of directors and leaders accused of incompetence.</p>

<p>At its Kabul offices, vital documents have been tossed in the trash and its all-male staff&nbsp;some of whom once hid precious movie reels from the Taliban&nbsp;now appear to lack motivation.</p>

<p>"It is very challenging, but I am a person who welcomes challenges," Karimi said of the role she began in May at Afghan Film, becoming the first woman at the helm of the national film agency.</p>

<p>Since then, she has pushed projects aiming to bring Afghanistan's once-dynamic film industry back to life.</p>

<p><strong>First film festival</strong></p>

<p>Among them was a 10-day film festival where about 100 feature and documentary movies were screened at four venues across Kabul, including at Afghan Film.</p>

<p>The films exposed hundreds of Afghans to some of their country's cinema classics, with many seeing films for the first time.</p>

<p>"The film festival is a great idea because for a long time, cinemas were closed and no good movies were made," said 21-year-old festival-goer Atefa Essari.</p>

<p>"We didn't know our filmmakers because most of them were abroad. It is a great idea to see Afghan movies inside Afghanistan again."</p>

<p>Afghan Film has also recently digitised hundreds of hours of footage that includes movies and documentaries of Afghanistan before it was ravaged by violence.</p>

<p>Karimi, who has a doctorate in film, told AFP that the film board's staff must also take the lead in cinema's revival in Afghanistan.</p>

<p>"I told them that you don't need to stay in your office from 8:00 am to 4:00pm, you should go outside, you should sit under trees, you should talk to each other about everything and generate ideas," she said.</p>

<p>The director, who opened a cafe in the building's courtyard so they would have a place to brainstorm, leads by example.</p>

<p>Her film at Venice&nbsp;which has been endorsed by Angelina Jolie&nbsp;chronicles the lives of three Afghan women from various social backgrounds and the tough choices they face.</p>

<p>But many Afghans are still afraid the newfound freedoms people in cities like Kabul often enjoy could be taken away.</p>

<p>Taliban and US negotiators were until recently on the brink of a deal that would have seen the US military cut its troop presence in return for various Taliban commitments.</p>

<p>Despite a breakdown in talks, many Afghans are convinced the Taliban will come roaring back into power.</p>

<p>"They will come but we are not going to give up and we will fight," Karimi said.</p>


In the dilapidated offices of Afghanistan's state-run film board, where old movie reels are stacked in rusting canisters, Sahraa Karimi heads the all-male team she hopes will help drag the nation's cinema from the lingering shadow of Taliban rule.

In the dilapidated offices of Afghanistan's state-run film board, where old movie reels are stacked in rusting canisters, Sahraa Karimi heads the all-male team she hopes will help drag the nation's cinema from the lingering shadow of Taliban rule. "It is a very difficult position to be in, because I came to an office that had almost nothing, destroyed, so I need to build it again," said Karimi, a 36-year-old movie director whose female-led picture "Hava, Maryam, Ayesha" premiered this month at the Venice Film Festival. During its 1970s heyday, Afghanistan's film industry was vibrant: a slew of movies including the hit "Mardha Ra Qawl Ast" (Men keep their promises) dealt with themes of love, romance and power relations. But all that ended after the Soviet invasion of 1979, as filmmakers were pushed into propaganda, and the arrival of the Taliban who banned film and music under their savage rule of 1996-2001. The Islamist hardliners systematically destroyed movie reels and music tapes, smashed television sets, and anyone caught watching films faced harsh punishments including flogging. After the Taliban's ouster, the formerly prestigious Afghan Film board was resurrected but it has long languished, largely neglected, with a string of directors and leaders accused of incompetence. At its Kabul offices, vital documents have been tossed in the trash and its all-male staff some of whom once hid precious movie reels from the Taliban now appear to lack motivation. "It is very challenging, but I am a person who welcomes challenges," Karimi said of the role she began in May at Afghan Film, becoming the first woman at the helm of the national film agency. Since then, she has pushed projects aiming to bring Afghanistan's once-dynamic film industry back to life. First film festival Among them was a 10-day film festival where about 100 feature and documentary movies were screened at four venues across Kabul, including at Afghan Film. The films exposed hundreds of Afghans to some of their country's cinema classics, with many seeing films for the first time. "The film festival is a great idea because for a long time, cinemas were closed and no good movies were made," said 21-year-old festival-goer Atefa Essari. "We didn't know our filmmakers because most of them were abroad. It is a great idea to see Afghan movies inside Afghanistan again." Afghan Film has also recently digitised hundreds of hours of footage that includes movies and documentaries of Afghanistan before it was ravaged by violence. Karimi, who has a doctorate in film, told AFP that the film board's staff must also take the lead in cinema's revival in Afghanistan. "I told them that you don't need to stay in your office from 8:00 am to 4:00pm, you should go outside, you should sit under trees, you should talk to each other about everything and generate ideas," she said. The director, who opened a cafe in the building's courtyard so they would have a place to brainstorm, leads by example. Her film at Venice which has been endorsed by Angelina Jolie chronicles the lives of three Afghan women from various social backgrounds and the tough choices they face. But many Afghans are still afraid the newfound freedoms people in cities like Kabul often enjoy could be taken away. Taliban and US negotiators were until recently on the brink of a deal that would have seen the US military cut its troop presence in return for various Taliban commitments. Despite a breakdown in talks, many Afghans are convinced the Taliban will come roaring back into power. "They will come but we are not going to give up and we will fight," Karimi said.

Director's cut: The Afghan woman making waves at all-male film board

A rare Darth Vader mask and helmet worn in one of the early "Star Wars" movies goes up for auction in Los Angeles later this month, along with a pair of Harry Potter's signature glasses.

Hollywood auction allows you to wear a piece of Hollywood history

Drajat Iskandar has been lending a hand to reviving the near-extinct art of "wayang bambu," or bamboo puppetry in West Java.

Puppets reborn: Indonesian pulls strings to revive near-dead artform

Cambodian Ouk Vanday is on a mission to put the piles of discarded rubbish around his neighbourhood to good use. He has built a cafe using stacks of beer bottles to make up a wall, and dead leaves to spell out the coffee shop's name -- 'Rubbish Cafe'.

Inside a Cambodian cafe built out of rubbish

108 year-old Wanda Zarzycka opens her piano and starts playing a melody. As her fingers move quickly and skilfully over the keys, the lines on her hands are the only thing betraying her age.

108-year-old pianist doesn't let age stop her playing

Brazil's national museum said on Tuesday that it has recovered 200 pieces from its Egypt collection after a devastating fire eight months ago.

Brazil museum recovers 200 Egypt pieces after fire

In the narrow alleys of the poor Pakistani neighbourhood of Lyari -- known for drugs, gang wars and a low literacy rate -- young children and youths are learning about peace and love crossing the boundaries of faith, from string puppets.

Puppet show in Pakistan teaches compassion regardless of faith

Leonardo Da Vinci's tuft of hair went on display on Thursday in an exhibition called "Leonardo Vive" spanning two new museums in the artist's Tuscan birthplace of Vinci that will run through Dec. 31.

Da Vinci experts hope to resolve mystery of hair

Chinese bamboo weaving master makes bamboo QR code

<p>I was extremely privileged to attend a government school that offered rigorous and easily accessible opportunities in the Arts. Not only did we take distinct art classes, but art was also occasionally incorporated into our lessons. We wouldn’t just do the math, we would create geometric patterns using the math skills we spent time mastering. I remember particularly using sketch pads to observe my native New Hampshire’s natural environment as part of our environmental science curriculum.</p>

<p>The importance of these sorts of activities in my own education demonstrated to me the benefits of integrating Art into more traditional subjects like Science, Math, Reading and Social Studies.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In the United States, this integrated approach to teaching Art, as well as more formal Art classes like painting, drawing, dancing and theatre have been widely researched for their impact on student success in other academic and social areas. In fact, a 2009 study by Florida’s Department of education demonstrated that students across a variety of socioeconomic classes that were involved in Art courses achieved higher on standardised tests compared to their peers.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Furthermore, students in other states and even countries like Missouri and the United Kingdom had lower dropout rates, higher attendance rates, higher academic achievement and even improved social skills when they engaged in the arts. In addition to these improved quantitative results, at-risk students have also expressed feeling more engaged and motivated to learn when placed in arts-based environments,</p>

<p>While I could find minimal published research regarding the impact of Arts education in Indian schools, research summaries from the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development point to the wide and varied impact of Art on educational achievement in developed and developing countries.  Furthermore, there have been many public calls and conference supporting increased investment in art in government schools. In addition, research conducted by India’s National Council of Educational Research and Training, as well as recent developments in the national curriculum frameworks have formally highlighted the role that art can play to improve a child’s education.</p>

<p>This movement toward formally recognising art as a more integral aspect of education in India is not only exciting for the academic benefits it can offer but also because art has the unique ability to create more equitable learning environments. In the government school I work in, the students come from a variety of linguistic, cultural and regional backgrounds. In addition, unlike in elite, private schools, resources like projectors, musical instruments, vast libraries of books or labs filled with chemistry equipment are simply not accessible. Furthermore, in an urban environment like Delhi, spacious learning environments for reflection or even inter-student dialogue can be hard to come by.</p>

<p>While each of these factors could present an obstacle to learning, Art can offer a means of levelling the playing field between students of different backgrounds. When one student speaks Hindi and the other Bihari, designing pictures of animal habitats creates a bridge rather than a gap between the two individuals.</p>

<p>When one student’s family has the resources to provide her with internet access and a computer while the other student must sell candy to support her siblings, we cannot ask both students to type or even write an essay and expect the same learning outcomes. While providing every student with the individual attention that they need to learn most effectively would be ideal, unfortunately, in the realm of government education, additional human resources like extra teachers and tutors can be costly.&nbsp;</p>

<p>However, by providing students with a piece of paper, some colourful dough or a set of coloured pencils, every student can draw their surroundings or create a replica of the heritage sites in their neighbourhood. Not only will they exercise some of their own creative potential, but each student will be able to learn through their own, individualised process. Regardless of their Math skills, both students can feel a sense of achievement when they create and measure something from their own hands. Instead of becoming confused when the teacher says “a triangle has three sides” in a language they do not understand, they can identify differences in a square and a triangle by seeing and touching their own creations.</p>

<p>From this perspective, taking advantage of each student’s unique creativity offers an opportunity to teach the more “testable” lessons like fractions or measurements without fearing that some students may be left behind. Art, more than just a creative outlet, becomes a means of creating more equitable learning environments and ensuring that students are not at a disadvantage merely because they come from a marginal or otherwise different group. Until broader social change occurs in our education systems, there are few options for educating large groups of increasingly diverse students with more potential than curriculum that embrace art in an interdisciplinary manner.&nbsp;</p>

<p>I may not be training the next generation of Rabindranath Tagore or Leonardo DaVinci but I have seen that even the most simple Art projects can transform learning environments. From drawing maps to designing habitats, Art is one of the most universally accessible forms of education that we have.</p>

<p>I was extremely privileged to attend a government school that offered rigorous and easily accessible opportunities in the Arts. Not only did we take distinct art classes, but art was also occasionally incorporated into our lessons. We wouldn’t just do the math, we would create geometric patterns using the math skills we spent time mastering. I remember particularly using sketch pads to observe my native New Hampshire’s natural environment as part of our environmental science curriculum.</p>

<p>The importance of these sorts of activities in my own education demonstrated to me the benefits of integrating Art into more traditional subjects like Science, Math, Reading and Social Studies.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In the United States, this integrated approach to teaching art, as well as more formal Art classes like painting, drawing, dancing and theatre have been widely researched for their impact on student success in other academic and social areas. In fact, a 2009 study by Florida’s Department of education demonstrated that students across a variety of socioeconomic classes that were involved in Art courses achieved higher on standardised tests compared to their peers.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Furthermore, students in other states and even countries like Missouri and the United Kingdom had lower dropout rates, higher attendance rates, higher academic achievement and even improved social skills when they engaged in the arts. In addition to these improved quantitative results, at-risk students have also expressed feeling more engaged and motivated to learn when placed in arts-based environments,</p>

<p>While I could find minimal published research regarding the impact of Arts education in Indian schools, research summaries from the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development point to the wide and varied impact of Art on educational achievement in developed and developing countries.  Furthermore, there have been many public calls and conference supporting increased investment in art in government schools. In addition, research conducted by India’s National Council of Educational Research and Training, as well as recent developments in the national curriculum frameworks have formally highlighted the role that art can play to improve a child’s education.</p>

<p>This movement toward formally recognising art as a more integral aspect of education in India is not only exciting for the academic benefits it can offer but also because art has the unique ability to create more equitable learning environments. In the government school I work in, the students come from a variety of linguistic, cultural and regional backgrounds. In addition, unlike in elite, private schools, resources like projectors, musical instruments, vast libraries of books or labs filled with chemistry equipment are simply not accessible. Furthermore, in an urban environment like Delhi, spacious learning environments for reflection or even inter-student dialogue can be hard to come by.</p>

<p>While each of these factors could present an obstacle to learning, Art can offer a means of levelling the playing field between students of different backgrounds. When one student speaks Hindi and the other Bihari, designing pictures of animal habitats creates a bridge rather than a gap between the two individuals.</p>

<p>When one student’s family has the resources to provide her with internet access and a computer while the other student must sell candy to support her siblings, we cannot ask both students to type or even write an essay and expect the same learning outcomes. While providing every student with the individual attention that they need to learn most effectively would be ideal, unfortunately, in the realm of government education, additional human resources like extra teachers and tutors can be costly.&nbsp;</p>

<p>However, by providing students with a piece of paper, some colourful dough or a set of coloured pencils, every student can draw their surroundings or create a replica of the heritage sites in their neighbourhood. Not only will they exercise some of their own creative potential, but each student will be able to learn through their own, individualised process. Regardless of their Math skills, both students can feel a sense of achievement when they create and measure something from their own hands. Instead of becoming confused when the teacher says “a triangle has three sides” in a language they do not understand, they can identify differences in a square and a triangle by seeing and touching their own creations.</p>

<p>From this perspective, taking advantage of each student’s unique creativity offers an opportunity to teach the more “testable” lessons like fractions or measurements without fearing that some students may be left behind. Art, more than just a creative outlet, becomes a means of creating more equitable learning environments and ensuring that students are not at a disadvantage merely because they come from a marginal or otherwise different group. Until broader social change occurs in our education systems, there are few options for educating large groups of increasingly diverse students with more potential than curriculum that embrace art in an interdisciplinary manner.&nbsp;</p>

<p>I may not be training the next generation of Rabindranath Tagore or Leonardo DaVinci but I have seen that even the most simple art projects can transform learning environments. From drawing maps to designing habitats, art is one of the most universally accessible forms of education that we have.</p>

<p>&nbsp;<br />
<em>*A previous version of this article was originally published on February 7th, 2019, by the American India Foundation.&nbsp;</em></p>

<p><em>(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)</em></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;<br />
&nbsp;</p>


I was extremely privileged to attend a government school that offered rigorous and easily accessible opportunities in the Arts. Not only did we take distinct art classes, but art was also occasionally incorporated into our lessons.

I was extremely privileged to attend a government school that offered rigorous and easily accessible opportunities in the Arts. Not only did we take distinct art classes, but art was also occasionally incorporated into our lessons. We wouldn’t just do the math, we would create geometric patterns using the math skills we spent time mastering. I remember particularly using sketch pads to observe my native New Hampshire’s natural environment as part of our environmental science curriculum. The importance of these sorts of activities in my own education demonstrated to me the benefits of integrating Art into more traditional subjects like Science, Math, Reading and Social Studies. In the United States, this integrated approach to teaching Art, as well as more formal Art classes like painting, drawing, dancing and theatre have been widely researched for their impact on student success in other academic and social areas. In fact, a 2009 study by Florida’s Department of education demonstrated that students across a variety of socioeconomic classes that were involved in Art courses achieved higher on standardised tests compared to their peers. Furthermore, students in other states and even countries like Missouri and the United Kingdom had lower dropout rates, higher attendance rates, higher academic achievement and even improved social skills when they engaged in the arts. In addition to these improved quantitative results, at-risk students have also expressed feeling more engaged and motivated to learn when placed in arts-based environments, While I could find minimal published research regarding the impact of Arts education in Indian schools, research summaries from the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development point to the wide and varied impact of Art on educational achievement in developed and developing countries.  Furthermore, there have been many public calls and conference supporting increased investment in art in government schools. In addition, research conducted by India’s National Council of Educational Research and Training, as well as recent developments in the national curriculum frameworks have formally highlighted the role that art can play to improve a child’s education. This movement toward formally recognising art as a more integral aspect of education in India is not only exciting for the academic benefits it can offer but also because art has the unique ability to create more equitable learning environments. In the government school I work in, the students come from a variety of linguistic, cultural and regional backgrounds. In addition, unlike in elite, private schools, resources like projectors, musical instruments, vast libraries of books or labs filled with chemistry equipment are simply not accessible. Furthermore, in an urban environment like Delhi, spacious learning environments for reflection or even inter-student dialogue can be hard to come by. While each of these factors could present an obstacle to learning, Art can offer a means of levelling the playing field between students of different backgrounds. When one student speaks Hindi and the other Bihari, designing pictures of animal habitats creates a bridge rather than a gap between the two individuals. When one student’s family has the resources to provide her with internet access and a computer while the other student must sell candy to support her siblings, we cannot ask both students to type or even write an essay and expect the same learning outcomes. While providing every student with the individual attention that they need to learn most effectively would be ideal, unfortunately, in the realm of government education, additional human resources like extra teachers and tutors can be costly. However, by providing students with a piece of paper, some colourful dough or a set of coloured pencils, every student can draw their surroundings or create a replica of the heritage sites in their neighbourhood. Not only will they exercise some of their own creative potential, but each student will be able to learn through their own, individualised process. Regardless of their Math skills, both students can feel a sense of achievement when they create and measure something from their own hands. Instead of becoming confused when the teacher says “a triangle has three sides” in a language they do not understand, they can identify differences in a square and a triangle by seeing and touching their own creations. From this perspective, taking advantage of each student’s unique creativity offers an opportunity to teach the more “testable” lessons like fractions or measurements without fearing that some students may be left behind. Art, more than just a creative outlet, becomes a means of creating more equitable learning environments and ensuring that students are not at a disadvantage merely because they come from a marginal or otherwise different group. Until broader social change occurs in our education systems, there are few options for educating large groups of increasingly diverse students with more potential than curriculum that embrace art in an interdisciplinary manner. I may not be training the next generation of Rabindranath Tagore or Leonardo DaVinci but I have seen that even the most simple Art projects can transform learning environments. From drawing maps to designing habitats, Art is one of the most universally accessible forms of education that we have. I was extremely privileged to attend a government school that offered rigorous and easily accessible opportunities in the Arts. Not only did we take distinct art classes, but art was also occasionally incorporated into our lessons. We wouldn’t just do the math, we would create geometric patterns using the math skills we spent time mastering. I remember particularly using sketch pads to observe my native New Hampshire’s natural environment as part of our environmental science curriculum. The importance of these sorts of activities in my own education demonstrated to me the benefits of integrating Art into more traditional subjects like Science, Math, Reading and Social Studies. In the United States, this integrated approach to teaching art, as well as more formal Art classes like painting, drawing, dancing and theatre have been widely researched for their impact on student success in other academic and social areas. In fact, a 2009 study by Florida’s Department of education demonstrated that students across a variety of socioeconomic classes that were involved in Art courses achieved higher on standardised tests compared to their peers. Furthermore, students in other states and even countries like Missouri and the United Kingdom had lower dropout rates, higher attendance rates, higher academic achievement and even improved social skills when they engaged in the arts. In addition to these improved quantitative results, at-risk students have also expressed feeling more engaged and motivated to learn when placed in arts-based environments, While I could find minimal published research regarding the impact of Arts education in Indian schools, research summaries from the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development point to the wide and varied impact of Art on educational achievement in developed and developing countries.  Furthermore, there have been many public calls and conference supporting increased investment in art in government schools. In addition, research conducted by India’s National Council of Educational Research and Training, as well as recent developments in the national curriculum frameworks have formally highlighted the role that art can play to improve a child’s education. This movement toward formally recognising art as a more integral aspect of education in India is not only exciting for the academic benefits it can offer but also because art has the unique ability to create more equitable learning environments. In the government school I work in, the students come from a variety of linguistic, cultural and regional backgrounds. In addition, unlike in elite, private schools, resources like projectors, musical instruments, vast libraries of books or labs filled with chemistry equipment are simply not accessible. Furthermore, in an urban environment like Delhi, spacious learning environments for reflection or even inter-student dialogue can be hard to come by. While each of these factors could present an obstacle to learning, Art can offer a means of levelling the playing field between students of different backgrounds. When one student speaks Hindi and the other Bihari, designing pictures of animal habitats creates a bridge rather than a gap between the two individuals. When one student’s family has the resources to provide her with internet access and a computer while the other student must sell candy to support her siblings, we cannot ask both students to type or even write an essay and expect the same learning outcomes. While providing every student with the individual attention that they need to learn most effectively would be ideal, unfortunately, in the realm of government education, additional human resources like extra teachers and tutors can be costly. However, by providing students with a piece of paper, some colourful dough or a set of coloured pencils, every student can draw their surroundings or create a replica of the heritage sites in their neighbourhood. Not only will they exercise some of their own creative potential, but each student will be able to learn through their own, individualised process. Regardless of their Math skills, both students can feel a sense of achievement when they create and measure something from their own hands. Instead of becoming confused when the teacher says “a triangle has three sides” in a language they do not understand, they can identify differences in a square and a triangle by seeing and touching their own creations. From this perspective, taking advantage of each student’s unique creativity offers an opportunity to teach the more “testable” lessons like fractions or measurements without fearing that some students may be left behind. Art, more than just a creative outlet, becomes a means of creating more equitable learning environments and ensuring that students are not at a disadvantage merely because they come from a marginal or otherwise different group. Until broader social change occurs in our education systems, there are few options for educating large groups of increasingly diverse students with more potential than curriculum that embrace art in an interdisciplinary manner. I may not be training the next generation of Rabindranath Tagore or Leonardo DaVinci but I have seen that even the most simple art projects can transform learning environments. From drawing maps to designing habitats, art is one of the most universally accessible forms of education that we have. *A previous version of this article was originally published on February 7th, 2019, by the American India Foundation. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)

Blog: Art as an equaliser in education

<p>Tyeb Mehta's painting "Durga Mahisasura Mardini" was sold for $2.9 million (Rs 20.49 crore) at Boundless India, Sotheby's inaugural auction in Mumbai Thursday evening.</p>

<p>Art works worth $7.9 million (Rs 55.40 crore) were sold at the auction, a Sotheby's official said, adding over 75 per cent of sold lots achieved prices above their pre-sale high estimates.</p>

<p>Mehta's painting had remained in the same private collection ever since it was commissioned from the artist in 1993.</p>

<p>Strong competition for Amrita Sher-Gil's "The Little Girl in Blue" drove the painting to sell over the high estimate for Rs 18.69 crore (USD 2.7 million), a record price for the artist in India.</p><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/6sbGBw0yarY" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>

<p>This is only the seventh oil painting by the artist to be offered anywhere in the world. The work had remained in the same collection for 80 years, since it was selected by the artist for her first solo show in 1937.</p>

<p>Earlier in the sale, a second work by Sher-Gil, a work on paper created by the artist when she was just 10 years old, was also sold.</p>

<p>Edward Gibbs, Sotheby's Chairman for the Middle East and India, said, "This is a milestone moment for Sotheby's. Tonights sale reflects Sotheby's continued commitment to the South Asian market."</p>

<p>Yamini Mehta, Sotheby's International Head of Indian and South Asian Art, said, "Tonight's results are a vote of confidence for the South Asian art market, with significant new records and benchmarks achieved across different artists and genres."</p>

<p>One of the most important sculptures created in modern India, an untitled 1950s bronze by Sadanand Bakre, achieved a record price for any 20th century Indian sculpture at Rs 1.88 crore.&nbsp;</p>


Tyeb Mehta's painting "Durga Mahisasura Mardini" was sold for $2.9 million (Rs 20.49 crore) at Boundless India, Sotheby's inaugural auction in Mumbai Thursday evening.

Tyeb Mehta's painting "Durga Mahisasura Mardini" was sold for $2.9 million (Rs 20.49 crore) at Boundless India, Sotheby's inaugural auction in Mumbai Thursday evening. Art works worth $7.9 million (Rs 55.40 crore) were sold at the auction, a Sotheby's official said, adding over 75 per cent of sold lots achieved prices above their pre-sale high estimates. Mehta's painting had remained in the same private collection ever since it was commissioned from the artist in 1993. Strong competition for Amrita Sher-Gil's "The Little Girl in Blue" drove the painting to sell over the high estimate for Rs 18.69 crore (USD 2.7 million), a record price for the artist in India. This is only the seventh oil painting by the artist to be offered anywhere in the world. The work had remained in the same collection for 80 years, since it was selected by the artist for her first solo show in 1937. Earlier in the sale, a second work by Sher-Gil, a work on paper created by the artist when she was just 10 years old, was also sold. Edward Gibbs, Sotheby's Chairman for the Middle East and India, said, "This is a milestone moment for Sotheby's. Tonights sale reflects Sotheby's continued commitment to the South Asian market." Yamini Mehta, Sotheby's International Head of Indian and South Asian Art, said, "Tonight's results are a vote of confidence for the South Asian art market, with significant new records and benchmarks achieved across different artists and genres." One of the most important sculptures created in modern India, an untitled 1950s bronze by Sadanand Bakre, achieved a record price for any 20th century Indian sculpture at Rs 1.88 crore.

Tyeb Mehta's painting fetches Rs 20 crore at art auction in Mumbai

<p>With a sharp eye for detail, Bilal Asif carefully labours over his quest for a pointedly unusual world record -- crafting the largest swing ever made from pencils.</p>

<p>Asif combs over his creation inside his studio in the southern megacity of Karachi, fine-tuning details with a razor blade and mulling new decorative additions.</p>

<p>"My main objective was not only to make the pencil swing but I aspired to make it with as much creativity as I could," said the artist.</p>

<p><img alt="Image source: AFP" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="225a019b-1e91-4fcb-a4ea-e62529e27fcd" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design_0.jpg" /></p>

<p>By January, Asif plans to register his work for the Guinness Book of World Records. He has used up to 30,000 pencils in total, cut into more than 100,000 pieces.</p>

<p>The swing rests on massive posts resembling pencils, while colourful pastel designs give the structure a touch of South Asian flamboyance, drawing striking similarities to the artwork decorating the ubiquitous "jingle trucks" that barrel down roads across Pakistan.</p>

<p><img alt="Image source: AFP" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="8f29a155-926d-4c31-9434-b2152d6ec896" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%281%29.jpg" /></p>

<p>Striving to break world records is the norm in neighbouring India, which holds a suite of peculiar Guinness plaudits including the largest number of people to sing a national anthem in unison.</p>

<p>But Pakistan, which split from India at independence from Britain in 1947 and has viewed it as an archrival ever since, has yet to match its neighbour's enthusiasm for quirky world record glory.</p>

<p><img alt="Image source: AFP" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="7ed205cf-37fa-4967-87cb-9c8d82ce71e0" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%282%29.jpg" /></p>

<p>The achievement would cement a goal sketched out since Asif's youth, when he began collecting pencils from all over the world.</p>

<p>"Some people criticise my work but I don't react to them," he said.</p>

<p><img alt="Image source: AFP" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="0fbac331-6ffc-4af8-a0f3-7b5a059e68eb" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%283%29.jpg" /></p>

<p>He likes to point out that the swing is not just about breaking records, drawing a line between his art and his quest to promote friendship abroad.</p>

<p>"This is not only a world record but this is a message of peace from the whole Pakistan to the other countries through this art," Asif adds. "This is my aim."</p>

<p><br />
&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>


With a sharp eye for detail, Bilal Asif carefully labours over his quest for a pointedly unusual world record -- crafting the largest swing ever made from pencils.

With a sharp eye for detail, Bilal Asif carefully labours over his quest for a pointedly unusual world record -- crafting the largest swing ever made from pencils. Asif combs over his creation inside his studio in the southern megacity of Karachi, fine-tuning details with a razor blade and mulling new decorative additions. "My main objective was not only to make the pencil swing but I aspired to make it with as much creativity as I could," said the artist. By January, Asif plans to register his work for the Guinness Book of World Records. He has used up to 30,000 pencils in total, cut into more than 100,000 pieces. The swing rests on massive posts resembling pencils, while colourful pastel designs give the structure a touch of South Asian flamboyance, drawing striking similarities to the artwork decorating the ubiquitous "jingle trucks" that barrel down roads across Pakistan. Striving to break world records is the norm in neighbouring India, which holds a suite of peculiar Guinness plaudits including the largest number of people to sing a national anthem in unison. But Pakistan, which split from India at independence from Britain in 1947 and has viewed it as an archrival ever since, has yet to match its neighbour's enthusiasm for quirky world record glory. The achievement would cement a goal sketched out since Asif's youth, when he began collecting pencils from all over the world. "Some people criticise my work but I don't react to them," he said. He likes to point out that the swing is not just about breaking records, drawing a line between his art and his quest to promote friendship abroad. "This is not only a world record but this is a message of peace from the whole Pakistan to the other countries through this art," Asif adds. "This is my aim."

Sharpen up: Pakistani artist aims for Guinness record with largest swing made from pencils

<p>For art connoisseurs in India, Viveek Sharma is a familiar name. In a career spanning little over two decades, the artist had made quite an impact in the art arena, with his work which is modern and relatable. Sharma has a degree in art from the prestigious J.J. School of Arts and has hosted art exhibition around the world -from Switzerland, Germany, France, to India and, most recently in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Sharma has also dabbled in acting and has featured in films like No Smoking, Asoka and Jhoom Barabar Jhoom.</p>

<p>For his work, he draws inspiration from daily life. Born and raised in Mumbai, the artist has taken inspiration from the city for many of his works. Sharma has also done an unique series called Reflections on actress Vidya Balan which the actress herself inaugurated.</p>

<p>Viveek spoke to WION about having Balan as his muse, art in present society and the importance of Indian artists globally. Here are the excerpts.</p>

<p><strong>Q: Where do you see Indian art on the world map? Has it gained more prominence over the years?</strong></p>

<p><strong>A: </strong>Have you ever seen the huge piece of art, &#39;Cloud Gate&#39; at Chicago Art Institute? It&#39;s popularity as a &#39;Bean&#39; by Anish Kapoor a world-renowned name of fame, is that of an Indian. Indian Artist&#39;s might be slow in achieving that status, but surely many would make it up in the world scenario. There are quite a few names from the contemporary art scene who are making waves in the west. To do justice to all known and unknown to me, I shall prudently refrain from quoting their names. The fact that we are able to host a Biennial of International stature is evident that India is promising.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Q: What inspired you to work on your new compilation &#39;Silence, Please&#39;?</strong></p>

<p><strong>A:</strong> I am not only a part of, but I live and breathe this overwhelming landscape of Mumbai. It has always been a source of inspiration right from my early years. It all began subconsciously I believe. I used to reside in Chembur earlier, just off the Eastern Express highway. At first, things were smooth, I was oblivious to the background but then as time went by the constant noise became more and more apparent. It would disturb my every moment. I finally looked for and found a new apartment, one morning I woke to realise that I had chosen a location that overlooks a church, surrounded by greenery and away from the main road that mornings and evenings are a relief from the chaos of daily routines.</p>

<p>In fact, my east facing window was the main inspiration for the light source that is a signature in all my work.</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false"><img alt="" draggable="false" src="http://s.wionews.com/photos/vidya%20balan%20%234-20180104103240.JPG" />
<div class="media-description">
<p>Vidya Balan admiring her portrait created by Viveek Sharma. (WION)</p>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="javascript:void(0)" id="jqclosemark">&times;</a></div>

<p><strong>Q: You had Vidya Balan as one of your subjects once. Tell us more about that series? What was her reaction to your work?</strong></p>

<p><strong>A:</strong> Vidya Balan was the subject of my body of work titled Reflections in 2012. It was my tribute to Andy Warhol and the iconic Marilyn Monroe who was his muse. I substituted the original subject with Vidya, bringing in a culturally relevant subject. The technique of screen-printing was replaced by handmade multiplication using oils on canvas. The concept follows from substitution on the iconic actress, the contrasting time and place and the medium or technique used.</p>

<p>It all started in 2012 when I went to see her iconic film, The Dirty Picture. Watching her on screen and carrying herself in a sari that way, was so impressive. Vidya is a brilliant actress and really got into the skin of the character she portrayed - Silk Smitha and her life. I also felt that there were so many similarities between Marilyn and Smitha. Both of them enjoyed success so early in their careers. However, as the years went by, they didn&#39;t get the roles they wanted and both died very young in their mid-30s.</p>

<p>I did nine paintings of Vidya, in the same posture -- the one that became famous overnight from the film, but in different colours like red, green, brown, black and blue. When I finished the work, I showed it to the renowned columnist, author and art collector, Shobhaa De. So impressed was Shobhaa with the work that she asked me if I wanted Vidya to open the show! And that&#39;s how Vidya inaugurated my Exhibition.</p>

<p>Vidya is such a wonderful, humble and down to earth person. She was very appreciative of my work and was quite touched and seemed impressed with how I had captured her on canvas. The paintings have found buyers not just in India, but across the world!</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false"><img alt="" draggable="false" src="http://s.wionews.com/photos/untitled%20design%20(18)-20180104103334.jpg" />
<div class="media-description">
<p>Portraits of Vidya Balan created by artist Viveek Sharma. (WION)</p>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="javascript:void(0)" id="jqclosemark">&times;</a></div>

<p><strong>Q: What is that one quality that every artist should possess?</strong></p>

<p><strong>A:</strong> Based on my own experience over the last couple of decades, I share a simple piece of advice with all my young artists pursuing their dream in the art world -- never compromise on time dedicated to a piece of work - it reflects in the details.</p>

<p><strong>Q: A lot of artwork is often scrutinized and criticised by society. Artists like MF Hussain have in the past received criticism for their work. You feel our society is still not open to out of box ideas?&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p><strong>A: </strong>Nothing in nature changes, clouds, mountains, sunset, sunrise and so on. But, with the advancement in science and technology, a lot has been transformed. We still live in a world that is embroiled in controversies. Contradictions arising between traditional values and modernity is the strongest. &ldquo;Nothing is more dangerous than a representational fallacy,&quot; says Herbert Read in his book on Philosophy of Modern Art. This is where the master painter had faced the controversial statements made as perceived by strong religious fundamentals. This has happened earlier when Artist&#39;s were victimized during Russian Revolution, French Revolution or even during German holocaust period where Artist&#39;s by force fled to other parts of the world and took asylum in countries where they felt safe.</p>


Mumbai based Viveek Sharma draws inspiration from the city for his art work.

For art connoisseurs in India, Viveek Sharma is a familiar name. In a career spanning little over two decades, the artist had made quite an impact in the art arena, with his work which is modern and relatable. Sharma has a degree in art from the prestigious J.J. School of Arts and has hosted art exhibition around the world -from Switzerland, Germany, France, to India and, most recently in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Sharma has also dabbled in acting and has featured in films like No Smoking, Asoka and Jhoom Barabar Jhoom. For his work, he draws inspiration from daily life. Born and raised in Mumbai, the artist has taken inspiration from the city for many of his works. Sharma has also done an unique series called Reflections on actress Vidya Balan which the actress herself inaugurated. Viveek spoke to WION about having Balan as his muse, art in present society and the importance of Indian artists globally. Here are the excerpts. Q: Where do you see Indian art on the world map? Has it gained more prominence over the years? A: Have you ever seen the huge piece of art, 'Cloud Gate' at Chicago Art Institute? It's popularity as a 'Bean' by Anish Kapoor a world-renowned name of fame, is that of an Indian. Indian Artist's might be slow in achieving that status, but surely many would make it up in the world scenario. There are quite a few names from the contemporary art scene who are making waves in the west. To do justice to all known and unknown to me, I shall prudently refrain from quoting their names. The fact that we are able to host a Biennial of International stature is evident that India is promising. Q: What inspired you to work on your new compilation 'Silence, Please'? A: I am not only a part of, but I live and breathe this overwhelming landscape of Mumbai. It has always been a source of inspiration right from my early years. It all began subconsciously I believe. I used to reside in Chembur earlier, just off the Eastern Express highway. At first, things were smooth, I was oblivious to the background but then as time went by the constant noise became more and more apparent. It would disturb my every moment. I finally looked for and found a new apartment, one morning I woke to realise that I had chosen a location that overlooks a church, surrounded by greenery and away from the main road that mornings and evenings are a relief from the chaos of daily routines. In fact, my east facing window was the main inspiration for the light source that is a signature in all my work. Vidya Balan admiring her portrait created by Viveek Sharma. (WION) × Q: You had Vidya Balan as one of your subjects once. Tell us more about that series? What was her reaction to your work? A: Vidya Balan was the subject of my body of work titled Reflections in 2012. It was my tribute to Andy Warhol and the iconic Marilyn Monroe who was his muse. I substituted the original subject with Vidya, bringing in a culturally relevant subject. The technique of screen-printing was replaced by handmade multiplication using oils on canvas. The concept follows from substitution on the iconic actress, the contrasting time and place and the medium or technique used. It all started in 2012 when I went to see her iconic film, The Dirty Picture. Watching her on screen and carrying herself in a sari that way, was so impressive. Vidya is a brilliant actress and really got into the skin of the character she portrayed - Silk Smitha and her life. I also felt that there were so many similarities between Marilyn and Smitha. Both of them enjoyed success so early in their careers. However, as the years went by, they didn't get the roles they wanted and both died very young in their mid-30s. I did nine paintings of Vidya, in the same posture -- the one that became famous overnight from the film, but in different colours like red, green, brown, black and blue. When I finished the work, I showed it to the renowned columnist, author and art collector, Shobhaa De. So impressed was Shobhaa with the work that she asked me if I wanted Vidya to open the show! And that's how Vidya inaugurated my Exhibition. Vidya is such a wonderful, humble and down to earth person. She was very appreciative of my work and was quite touched and seemed impressed with how I had captured her on canvas. The paintings have found buyers not just in India, but across the world! Portraits of Vidya Balan created by artist Viveek Sharma. (WION) × Q: What is that one quality that every artist should possess? A: Based on my own experience over the last couple of decades, I share a simple piece of advice with all my young artists pursuing their dream in the art world -- never compromise on time dedicated to a piece of work - it reflects in the details. Q: A lot of artwork is often scrutinized and criticised by society. Artists like MF Hussain have in the past received criticism for their work. You feel our society is still not open to out of box ideas? A: Nothing in nature changes, clouds, mountains, sunset, sunrise and so on. But, with the advancement in science and technology, a lot has been transformed. We still live in a world that is embroiled in controversies. Contradictions arising between traditional values and modernity is the strongest. “Nothing is more dangerous than a representational fallacy," says Herbert Read in his book on Philosophy of Modern Art. This is where the master painter had faced the controversial statements made as perceived by strong religious fundamentals. This has happened earlier when Artist's were victimized during Russian Revolution, French Revolution or even during German holocaust period where Artist's by force fled to other parts of the world and took asylum in countries where they felt safe.

Why artist Viveek Sharma chose Mumbai and Vidya Balan as his muses

<p>Hollywood actor Jim Carrey known for his comic timing and quick wit in movies is up to something new.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The actor who has shied away from prying eyes of the audience, for a couple of years now, is back in the limelight with a documentary. The documentary titled&nbsp;&quot;Jim Carrey: I Needed Color&quot; shows the actor in action, in his art studio.</p>

<h2>Watch Jim Carrey in his art studio:</h2>

<p><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="480" mozallowfullscreen="" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/226379658" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="970"></iframe></p>

<p><a href="https://vimeo.com/226379658">Jim Carrey: I Needed Color</a> from <a href="https://vimeo.com/user53151609">SGG</a> on <a href="https://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.</p>

<p>It gives the viewers an insight into Carrey&#39;s life, the time and energy he is putting into it and his passion to indulge in the works of art. Carrey can be seen&nbsp;showing off his various methods of creating artwork: heavy and measured brush strokes, modelling clay, squeegeeing paint off of canvases, and then pouring paint directly on them.</p>

<p>&quot;I Needed Color&quot; released on a video-sharing platform some three weeks ago and it has already been viewed 2.4 million times.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Jim Carrey like many of his peers has finally come out with his artistic bent and given the audience a chance to come closer to the world that a Hollywood celebrity lives beyond acting.</p>

<p>But this is not a one-off case as he has on previous occasions, indulged in similar pursuits. In 2011, Carrey had&nbsp;first unveiled his artwork, in the self-titled painting gallery &quot;Jim Carrey: Nothing to See Here,&quot; in Palm Springs. The show was well received, and featured electric coloured paintings with a pop art tinge, with themes of overexposure, celebrity, and emotional vulnerability.&nbsp;</p>

<p>If the numbers are to be believed, this is just a small start for the brilliant actor.&nbsp;</p>

<p>(WION)</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>


In 6-minutes documentary, Carrey shares his passion and drive for art

Hollywood actor Jim Carrey known for his comic timing and quick wit in movies is up to something new. The actor who has shied away from prying eyes of the audience, for a couple of years now, is back in the limelight with a documentary. The documentary titled "Jim Carrey: I Needed Color" shows the actor in action, in his art studio. Watch Jim Carrey in his art studio: Jim Carrey: I Needed Color from SGG on Vimeo. It gives the viewers an insight into Carrey's life, the time and energy he is putting into it and his passion to indulge in the works of art. Carrey can be seen showing off his various methods of creating artwork: heavy and measured brush strokes, modelling clay, squeegeeing paint off of canvases, and then pouring paint directly on them. "I Needed Color" released on a video-sharing platform some three weeks ago and it has already been viewed 2.4 million times. Jim Carrey like many of his peers has finally come out with his artistic bent and given the audience a chance to come closer to the world that a Hollywood celebrity lives beyond acting. But this is not a one-off case as he has on previous occasions, indulged in similar pursuits. In 2011, Carrey had first unveiled his artwork, in the self-titled painting gallery "Jim Carrey: Nothing to See Here," in Palm Springs. The show was well received, and featured electric coloured paintings with a pop art tinge, with themes of overexposure, celebrity, and emotional vulnerability. If the numbers are to be believed, this is just a small start for the brilliant actor. (WION)

Wondering what Hollywood actor Jim Carrey has been up to? Well, drawing!

<p>Who knew drawing was different from doodling, up until the time Google started innovating with its logo on the homepage of its search engine. Most of us, including I thank the web giant for bringing the much-loved art form into the mainstream. Every kid&rsquo;s favourite pastime would have otherwise remained between the last pages of school textbooks or on the paper napkins.&nbsp;<br />
&nbsp;<br />
While Google in its everyday doodles commemorates important events of the world and people&rsquo;s contribution in different fields of study, there is a software developer in India who doodles away his time while travelling in the modest metro train, to and fro work.&nbsp;<br />
&nbsp;<br />
The Delhi-based artist features his work under the label Metrodoodle on both Facebook and Instagram but he got famous when he first published an Instagram post on October 29, 2016. Users on the picture-sharing social network app poured in their appreciation for the doodle with some even saying: &ldquo;You have made our day with this&rdquo;.&nbsp;<br />
&nbsp;<br />
He has never stopped since.&nbsp;<br />
&nbsp;<br />
Metrodoodler says, &ldquo;I&#39;ve been doodling all this time since I was a kid. It started with doodling on the last pages of the notebooks during school. You can find something in every notebook that I&rsquo;ve ever used. Now I doodle on my phone as it is always with me. It&rsquo;s amazing how I can draw anytime, anywhere whenever I feel. Metrodoodle basically helped me to put my time in travelling to some use. One thing is that I was able to create doodles for people to enjoy, another was that it was a daily practice for me to work and improve my skills.&rdquo;<br />
&nbsp;<br />
Doodling monsters, aliens, fictional characters, superheroes and mythical animals, he keeps reinventing with his doodles. He says, &ldquo;There isn&rsquo;t any specific area the inspiration comes from rather it&rsquo;s a mixture of so many things. The stuff I like to watch, read and think about, the people, the conversations and almost everything. The Metro gives me a huge canvas to imagine things and draw. When I am creating my artwork, I try to keep it different from reality.&rdquo;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

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<div style=" background:url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAACwAAAAsCAMAAAApWqozAAAABGdBTUEAALGPC/xhBQAAAAFzUkdCAK7OHOkAAAAMUExURczMzPf399fX1+bm5mzY9AMAAADiSURBVDjLvZXbEsMgCES5/P8/t9FuRVCRmU73JWlzosgSIIZURCjo/ad+EQJJB4Hv8BFt+IDpQoCx1wjOSBFhh2XssxEIYn3ulI/6MNReE07UIWJEv8UEOWDS88LY97kqyTliJKKtuYBbruAyVh5wOHiXmpi5we58Ek028czwyuQdLKPG1Bkb4NnM+VeAnfHqn1k4+GPT6uGQcvu2h2OVuIf/gWUFyy8OWEpdyZSa3aVCqpVoVvzZZ2VTnn2wU8qzVjDDetO90GSy9mVLqtgYSy231MxrY6I2gGqjrTY0L8fxCxfCBbhWrsYYAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC); display:block; height:44px; margin:0 auto -44px; position:relative; top:-22px; width:44px;">&nbsp;</div>
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<p style=" margin:8px 0 0 0; padding:0 4px;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BSgc8X9hNeh/" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_blank">That&#39;s some serious MartialArts there!! ? . #MetroDoodle #Doodle #MartialArts #Illustration #sketch #Metro #DigitalArt #yinyan #legsplit #graphicdesign #artwork #instaart #Creatures #india #instagram #Artist #PhoneClick #instagood #instamood #Artofvisuals #subway #phonography #scenes #stories #Artoftheday #Inspiration #photography #Artfeature #Art #Sketchbook</a></p>

<p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;">A post shared by MetroDoodle (@metrodoodle) on <time datetime="2017-04-05T14:29:57+00:00" style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;">Apr 5, 2017 at 7:29am PDT</time></p>
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<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>I asked him whether this requires professional training in drawing or software.&nbsp;<br />
&nbsp;<br />
Metrodoodler says, &ldquo;I haven&rsquo;t learnt it anywhere. I have grown drawing and sketching, so I would say it has come naturally to me. I am a software developer by profession and I take up freelance art projects for my weekends.&rdquo;<br />
&nbsp;<br />
Doodles are a new way of expressing creativity among the new generation of artists. According to a paper titled What does Doodling do? by Jackie Andrade in 2009, doodling has a couple of benefits for the artist. In his paper, he theorised that doodling helps you concentrate. &nbsp;<br />
&nbsp;<br />
Doodling also helps artists from coming out of a creative block, experienced by almost all practising artists. Initially used as a tool to pass the time before setting out to work, many artists feel that it can be taken up as a career. Metrodoodler says, &ldquo;I do consider this to be a career option. Right now there aren&#39;t any monetary benefits involved.&rdquo;<br />
&nbsp;<br />
Using his imagination to doodle animate and inanimate objects around people, he talks about his inspiration: &ldquo;I am constantly inspired by the work of all the artists shared on Instagram by them. Instagram is probably my favourite app. The work done by Subwaydoodle triggered me to start something of my own, as a result Metrodoodle happened. I made sure to keep my artwork different and unique by portraying my own imagination in my work. I try to put in some humour in my doodles, whenever possible. It feels nice if you can bring a smile on people&rsquo;s face.&rdquo;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

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<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>Do you ask for permission before clicking images of people?</p>

<p>He says, &ldquo;Till now, there hasn&rsquo;t been a situation where I have been stopped from clicking pictures but in case it happens, &nbsp;I&rsquo;ll introduce them to me and the purpose for which I am clicking the photograph and if they still don&rsquo;t want it taken, then I won&rsquo;t. On the contrary, I keep getting requests from people who want to be featured in my artwork.&rdquo;<br />
&nbsp;<br />
He adds, &ldquo;Whenever I am clicking pictures, I am not sure if I&rsquo;ll be using it for my doodles. I look to capture raw and candid pictures, without grabbing people&rsquo;s attention. Sometimes my camera shots are planned, but most of the time I just keep clicking whatever interests me and look for the idea for my doodles later. I never draw anything that would upset someone in my drawing. In case I feel it might, then I try to make them unrecognisable by adding things or blurring their face.&rdquo;<br />
&nbsp;<br />
Working on doodles only when he has the time, the artist behind Metrodoodle hopes that his work is appreciated by all. He is happy that people identify doodling as unique and can connect with it. He believes that currently no one apart from him is doodling in India.&nbsp;<br />
&nbsp;<br />
(WION)&nbsp;<br />
&nbsp;<br />
&nbsp;</p>


A software developer by profession, Metrodoodler doodles all that he sees and all that he doesn't

Who knew drawing was different from doodling, up until the time Google started innovating with its logo on the homepage of its search engine. Most of us, including I thank the web giant for bringing the much-loved art form into the mainstream. Every kid’s favourite pastime would have otherwise remained between the last pages of school textbooks or on the paper napkins. While Google in its everyday doodles commemorates important events of the world and people’s contribution in different fields of study, there is a software developer in India who doodles away his time while travelling in the modest metro train, to and fro work. The Delhi-based artist features his work under the label Metrodoodle on both Facebook and Instagram but he got famous when he first published an Instagram post on October 29, 2016. Users on the picture-sharing social network app poured in their appreciation for the doodle with some even saying: “You have made our day with this”. He has never stopped since. Metrodoodler says, “I've been doodling all this time since I was a kid. It started with doodling on the last pages of the notebooks during school. You can find something in every notebook that I’ve ever used. Now I doodle on my phone as it is always with me. It’s amazing how I can draw anytime, anywhere whenever I feel. Metrodoodle basically helped me to put my time in travelling to some use. One thing is that I was able to create doodles for people to enjoy, another was that it was a daily practice for me to work and improve my skills.” Doodling monsters, aliens, fictional characters, superheroes and mythical animals, he keeps reinventing with his doodles. He says, “There isn’t any specific area the inspiration comes from rather it’s a mixture of so many things. The stuff I like to watch, read and think about, the people, the conversations and almost everything. The Metro gives me a huge canvas to imagine things and draw. When I am creating my artwork, I try to keep it different from reality.” × × That's some serious MartialArts there!! ? . #MetroDoodle #Doodle #MartialArts #Illustration #sketch #Metro #DigitalArt #yinyan #legsplit #graphicdesign #artwork #instaart #Creatures #india #instagram #Artist #PhoneClick #instagood #instamood #Artofvisuals #subway #phonography #scenes #stories #Artoftheday #Inspiration #photography #Artfeature #Art #Sketchbook A post shared by MetroDoodle (@metrodoodle) on Apr 5, 2017 at 7:29am PDT × I asked him whether this requires professional training in drawing or software. Metrodoodler says, “I haven’t learnt it anywhere. I have grown drawing and sketching, so I would say it has come naturally to me. I am a software developer by profession and I take up freelance art projects for my weekends.” Doodles are a new way of expressing creativity among the new generation of artists. According to a paper titled What does Doodling do? by Jackie Andrade in 2009, doodling has a couple of benefits for the artist. In his paper, he theorised that doodling helps you concentrate. Doodling also helps artists from coming out of a creative block, experienced by almost all practising artists. Initially used as a tool to pass the time before setting out to work, many artists feel that it can be taken up as a career. Metrodoodler says, “I do consider this to be a career option. Right now there aren't any monetary benefits involved.” Using his imagination to doodle animate and inanimate objects around people, he talks about his inspiration: “I am constantly inspired by the work of all the artists shared on Instagram by them. Instagram is probably my favourite app. The work done by Subwaydoodle triggered me to start something of my own, as a result Metrodoodle happened. I made sure to keep my artwork different and unique by portraying my own imagination in my work. I try to put in some humour in my doodles, whenever possible. It feels nice if you can bring a smile on people’s face.” × × × Do you ask for permission before clicking images of people? He says, “Till now, there hasn’t been a situation where I have been stopped from clicking pictures but in case it happens, I’ll introduce them to me and the purpose for which I am clicking the photograph and if they still don’t want it taken, then I won’t. On the contrary, I keep getting requests from people who want to be featured in my artwork.” He adds, “Whenever I am clicking pictures, I am not sure if I’ll be using it for my doodles. I look to capture raw and candid pictures, without grabbing people’s attention. Sometimes my camera shots are planned, but most of the time I just keep clicking whatever interests me and look for the idea for my doodles later. I never draw anything that would upset someone in my drawing. In case I feel it might, then I try to make them unrecognisable by adding things or blurring their face.” Working on doodles only when he has the time, the artist behind Metrodoodle hopes that his work is appreciated by all. He is happy that people identify doodling as unique and can connect with it. He believes that currently no one apart from him is doodling in India. (WION)

The artist who draws aliens in Delhi's Metro train

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