Art for charity sake

A lot of words can describe Muscat-based artist Runita but none would be more apt than emphatic, sensitive and golden-hearted.

She would feel the agony of a child deprived of water at the warfront. She can feel the pains and hardships of refugees living in a foreign land after a catastrophe has befallen them. Her tears drop at the thought of those suffering from chronic disease back home in India.

This cultural and societal awareness were some of the driving forces why Runita pursue art. With its hues and shades, she can narrate and use this medium to communicate the pains of the poor, to comfort them by letting them know that there suffering isn’t unheard of and now, by using her talent and the result of her hard work to help those who are in need.

To help out, Runita has started, for several months now, collecting all her paintings — a vast collection of her emotional impressions on canvas which are now on display at the Arts Café of the City Seasons. They will be on display for a month.

Titled ‘Elements and Emotions’, the art expo was opened by Anvwar al Balushi, Chairman of Anvwar Asian Investments on August 2 in the presence of many other well-known esteemed personalities and witnessed by a large diverse group of distinguished art lovers.

Anvwar al Balushi expressed a deep heartfelt appreciation for the artworks and was moved by the candor depicted in the passionate meld of arts and deep diverse emotions they communicate.

“It is an amazing collection. The work of this young lady who feels the pain of others and wants to reach out to the poor are truly amazing,” Anvwar said.

“What makes her different is that the proceeds will be shared with some of the charity and rehabilitation works carried out in her country. This gives a much deeper sense of satisfaction for the artist as well as the visitors as every artwork displayed here, she gave a time of her life to complete them,” he added.

Runita and the expo coordinator, Nikhil Nigam, said the proceeds from this exhibition will be shared with the Home of Hope Foundation for the well-being of AIDS inflicted children in Varanasi, India.

“Creativity to me, is first and foremost, a form of expression and it created a special link between the internal and external worlds. Creativity allowed me to grasp powerful emotions and then mold them so that they can take physical forms which is my art,” said Runita.

Every single painting in this exhibition has a story associated with it that adds into the emotional journey of her life. She believes creativity is principally cathartic which relieves a deep need, an almost primal, archaic impulse in her.

“For these reasons, I am attracted to art that demands physicality, that allows me to express what’s inside and that unites spontaneity, strength, freedom, power and movement. Art to me is the core of creativity that dawns from within and heals everything,” she added.

True to what she said, the art in this exhibition confirms her perception and displays her emotions through their varied forms and the compositions of elements in each work of art.

“This art expo by Runita is laudable for it supports an orphanage for children with AIDS in India. I found all her works highly realistic in their selection of colours, shades and themes”, Dr J Retnakumar, Founder of Bhavalaya Art Platform, said.

The exhibition is open for all until September 4, 2017 and the artist can be contacted to schedule occasional personal visits to the display, for her to share the stories behind the artworks.

Kabeer Yousuf