The Khaitan School’s Class VII A, B, and C students visited the National Gallery of Modern Art on February 7, 2023, with the assistance of Ms. Anjon Bose, Ms. Srishti Parashar, Ms. Deepa Thomas, and Ms. Sarah Khan.
The major goal of the trip was to learn more about the many forms of art as well as the nine jewels of Indian art and exploring the vibrant and diverse world of modern and contemporary Indian art. This was an opportunity for students to broaden their horizons, learn about the world beyond their immediate surroundings and foster cross-cultural understanding.
The National Gallery of Modern Art is a premier art gallery in India that houses a vast collection of modern and contemporary Indian art. It is located in the heart of the capital city, near India Gate. The gallery was established in 1954 and has since been a hub for promoting Indian art and culture. It boasts a vast collection of over 17,000 artworks by both Indian and international artists. The collection includes paintings, sculptures, graphics, photographs, and installations, among other forms of art. This premier art gallery in India is not only a showcase of the country’s rich cultural heritage but also a window into the creative minds of artists from around the world.
The diversity of art forms provides students with an opportunity to experience art in various mediums, appreciate the skills and techniques involved in creating them, and understand the context and message behind each piece.
Students were introduced to the museum guide and given information about the rules as soon as they entered. The gallery’s trained guides provided insights into the pieces on display, the history of the artists, and the cultural significance of their works.
Their next assignment was to channel their inner artists & encourage experimentation by using charcoal and pencils to sketch a beautiful sculpture.
It was finally time for them to enter the Jaipur house after finishing their sketches, where they learnt all about the many art forms and the nine gems of Indian art.
The kids were welcomed by a sizable hall decorated with images of the nine priceless diamonds as soon as they arrived at the location. Each artist had a separate area of the building where their exquisite works of art were displayed. Abanindranath Tagore, Jamini Roy, Benode Bihari Mukherjee, Ramkinkar Baij, Amrita Sher-Gil, Gaganendranath Tagore, Sailoz Mukherjea, Nicholas Roerich, and Raja Ravi Varma are considered to be the nine diamonds of India. All of these artists had something in common: they each had a particular area of expertise in various creative genres. Each one of them was unique in their own way, whether they created realistic paintings or stone sculptures. The students then saw a carefully prepared description of each artist in a film that was shown on the ceiling.
The instructive excursion had to end after watching the film and leaving the Jaipur home. After taking a few group pictures, students boarded buses to return to school with fantastic memories.
The trip was quite interesting and educational overall. Students gained a lot of knowledge about various artistic mediums & learnt about different cultures.They gained a deeper appreciation of art, and developed a critical eye for analyzing the meaning and symbolism behind the works of art. It was an enriching experience for the students.
