(Versione italiana). by Andrea Giostra
The latest artistic enterprise by Chiara Spagnoli
Gabardi unites ethics with aesthetics. The Milanese visual artist donated one
of her beautiful paintings, called Kālī, to the Children’s Welfare Association in Kolkata. This orphanage -
located in Sarsuna, that is part of the South-Western district of Kolkata known
as Behala - welcomes young girls to help them complete their studies and find a
job.
In the past, the Italian artist had already channelled
her art towards humanitarian purposes, donating her works to charity auctions and
benefits for the Museum of Psychiatry, Museo di
Psichiatria Paolo Pini (that took place in the
headquarters of the Italian newspaper Sole24Ore), the Youth Hospital, Ospedale dei
Bambini, in Milan and the New York organisation Tuesday’s Children.
So far the paintings by Chiara Spagnoli Gabardi have
been displayed in Milan, Rome, Venice, Bologna, Palermo, Oxford, London, Paris
and Manhattan. Chiara’s Material Puns travel to Asia for
the first time with the donation of Kālī, as she continues with her
Artistic-Activism.
In this Exclusive Interview she shares with us her
Indian adventure:
Chiara, how did this beautiful project come about?
I have always had children’s welfare at heart,
especially for those who are forced to grow up before their time, since
childhood has an important role in shaping us as adults. I had a very lucky
childhood. Perhaps that is why my sense of wonder has never abandoned me, and
it can be perceived in my Material Puns, that playfully use wordplay and mixed
media to convey a socially relevant message. I was hoping that the children from
India would feel inspired by my portrayal of the Goddess of Time. I shared my
wish with a New York friend, who is originally from New Delhi, and she
connected me with the Probini Foundation, that made me discover the Children’s
Welfare Association in Kolkata.
What is the history of this Children’s Home?
This Home was established in 1952 with only 8
destitute young girls who came to Kolkata from Bangladesh, that at the time was
East Pakistan. All of them had experienced the acute tortures inflicted on their
parents, brothers and sisters, by the Pakistani soldiers. None of them knew any
one in West Bengal, hence Late Mrs.Pratima Roy along with Late Mrs. Ashoka
Gupta, Late Mrs. Priti Sen, and a few others, rented a small house in
Beliaghata (north of Calcutta) and provided food and shelter to these girls. In
the course of time many more orphan girls approached Mrs. Roy, and after a few
years she was able to raise some funds and purchase a small house in Behala,
the place of the present Home. Several socially active women joined her and
they initiated a school in the same campus. Now the Home owns a large area of
land and the school is a Higher Secondary School, under the West Bengal
Government Board of Secondary Education, where local girls also come to study.
What is the current mission of the organisation?
The primary aim of the Association is to maintain the
children in a Home providing boarding, lodging, clothing, medical care, and
general education up to the Higher Secondary standard. Children also get different
vocational training such as weaving, tailoring, stitching, embroidery, knitting
and computer education. To create special interest in Art and Culture, the
young girls get trained in vocal music, dance, recitation, drawing and painting
by efficient teachers. To keep themselves healthy, the children are taught
different exercises according to their age group. Whereas to keep themselves
safe in future life, once they leave the orphanage, they are taught Martial
Arts by a professional teacher. Above all, children take training in all kinds
of domestic work. Senior students take care of their junior students as a part
of their duty. Thus, they learn caring and sharing. I was so impressed by the
efforts of this Home to develop the children’s values as much as their
education.
How was your painting received by the Children’s
Welfare Association and the young girls?
I was utterly overwhelmed by the warm welcome! Unfortunately,
I could not take it myself, because I was engaged with work. But my mother,
Bianca Maria Franchi, was my ambassador and brought the painting to Kolkata.
She was the one who handed it to the Executive Committee’s President Dr. Sujata
Ghosh Dastidar. Kālī was greeted by the staff and young girls, who celebrated
with Indian dances and songs, and the painting was crowned with a garland of
flowers and blessed with incense.
Did you regret not being there?
Very much, but the girls surprised me with a wonderful
gift, that my mother brought back to me: a painting they had made that homages
Subhas Chandra Bose. He was a “Netaji” a "Respected Leader,” who led the
Indian independence movement from British rule. The airport of Kolkata is named
after him. This gift is very significant to me. They look at my Kālī and I gaze
at their Netaji. We are united by art.
What was your aim by donating Kālī to the Children’s
Welfare Association?
My goal was to encourage female empowerment in these
children who have started life hustling, but have finally found a caring Home.
I chose the Hindu Goddess, Kālī, who controls the spirals of time, with this
intent. She is both Creator and Destroyer. I wanted to inspire these little
women to be the makers of their own fate and become as valiant as Kālī,
battling every instant for the pursuit of their dreams.
Link:
Andrea Giostra
https://andreagiostrafilm.blogspot.it
https://business.facebook.com/AndreaGiostraFilm/
