Oakridgers display anguish through art

Students of Oakridge International School showcased their art exhibits at the Muse Art Gallery on Sunday. Over 25 paintings were displayed at the event and each one had a unique message to make. Oakridgers also put together a short video that addressed some of the complexities faced by today’s generation and ways to tackle them.

Nadendla Manohar, former speaker of AP Assembly inaugurated the exhibition.

He expressed, “Today internet is a means for students to acquire knowledge, while encouraging kids from gaining information this way, parents should take responsibility, spend time with the kids, monitor and keep track of what they are accessing on the net and prevent them from falling prey to the aspects which are evil. At the same time parents should repose confidence in their children. I congratulate the kids for the phenomenal works of art.”

Speaking to the children he said, “You need art in life giving a sense of direction. Never know your tryst with the brush might produce some artistic pieces. Art provides an opportunity to translate your vision into a form. It can also be an avenue to relax and gather your thoughts.”

"This event is our expression of anguish, concern towards the menace and our way to reach out. We wanted to tackle issues head on while embodying the spirit of the youth" said Divyansh Saksena, student.

The core team comprised Esha Khicha, Divyansh Saksena, Navya Gudimetla, Armaan Pishori and Raviteja Vajja, who were guided by their teachers Varsha and Vishweshwar Rao.

Speaking on the occasion, Arjun Rao, Principal Oakridge International School (Gachibowli) said, “This exhibition originated through conversations we have been having in the school about the complexities of growing up in the 21st century. The persistent influx of information, the constant need to sift through volumes of data and split-second decision-making is no longer a reality for a chosen few but a requisite for each and every student today. In the midst of this is an expectation on performance at the highest level – academic, non-academic, personal, social, physical and emotional – that is unprecedented. Today’s students believe that there is so much that they do, so much they believe in and so much that they have to say. This exhibition is an expression of this idea."