Project Sparsh: A Sensory Art Initiative by Asian Paints and St+art India at Rajasthan Netraheen Kalyan Sangh School, Jaipur

Introduction

Art connects people through thoughts and feelings that cannot be expressed in words. While most art is visually captivating, there are few artworks that bring the beauty and joy of art to people who cannot see them. This is the idea behind Project Sparsh, an initiative launched by Asian Paints and St+art India Foundation. Sparsh aims to bring the magic of art to visually impaired children, letting them experience it from a new perspective.

Background

Rajasthan Netraheen Kalyan Sangh (RNKS) is a school in Jaipur that has been transforming the lives of visually impaired students for more than five decades. The school provides education, vocational training, sports and cultural activities to over 200 students from different parts of Rajasthan. Asian Paints along with the St+art India Foundation added an artistic touch to the school by creating “tactile murals”. These are artworks that can be touched and felt by the students, using textured paints from Asian Paints’ Royale Play range. The initiative focuses on touching these children’s lives in a meaningful way at their school, which is like a second home to many of them. Through Sparsh, the goal is to broaden their young minds to new ways of experiencing art while sharing their pride in the vibrant and cultural heritage of Rajasthan on which the designs of the murals are based.

Outdoor Art

To make the outdoor mural a truly unique experience, the artists combined a textile working technique exclusive to Rajasthan, Bandhej, together with Braille to reinforce their mission of “Art For All”. Bandhej is a type of tie-dyeing that creates intricate patterns on fabrics using different colours. Braille is a system of raised dots that represent letters and numbers for people who are blind or visually impaired. The goal of this mural is to bring together seemingly contrasting elements – Bandhej and Braille, and vision and touch, all of which make this a tangible and powerful statement of ‘inclusivity’. These murals, crafted in the style of Rajasthani artisans, allow the students to experience a sense of joy and belonging.

Indoor Art

While art cannot be seen by all, it certainly can be felt by all. Hence, Asian Paints along with St+art India made a first of its kind “Art Museum” for these kids with varied degrees of visual impairment. The interior mural serves as an inspiration for these students whereby they are able to experience the ‘Art & Culture’ of Rajasthan via this tactile mural integrated with braille for their understanding. The mural features various elements of Rajasthani art and culture, such as:

• Kathputli: A traditional puppetry form that uses colourful wooden dolls to narrate stories and folktales.
• Blue Pottery: A ceramic craft that uses blue glaze to create intricate designs on pottery items such as vases, plates and tiles.
• Phad Paintings: A scroll painting form that depicts the legends and adventures of local heroes and deities on cloth or paper.
• Bandhej and Bagru Block Prints: Two types of textile printing techniques that use natural dyes and wooden blocks to create patterns on fabrics.

The indoor exhibition is a true feast for all the senses.

Art Workshop

The workshop displays artworks created by the students during the Sparsh initiative through the Access for All program. This program aims to provide inclusive art education to children with disabilities by engaging them in creative activities such as painting, sculpting, collage making and storytelling. The workshop showcases the innate ability of every child to find happiness by providing them the tools and opportunities to express themselves.

Conclusion

Speaking about Sparsh, Mr. Amit Syngle, MD & CEO, Asian Paints Ltd., says, “As we continue our long-standing partnership with St+art India Foundation, we are delighted to be a part of the Sparsh initiative at the Rajasthan Netraheen Kalyan Sangh in Jaipur. At Asian Paints, we leverage art and creativity to foster inclusivity among people. Through this initiative, we hope to touch the lives of these visually impaired children in a positive way and inspire them to explore their potential through art.”

Project Sparsh is an example of how art can transcend barriers and create meaningful connections among people from different backgrounds and abilities. It is also a testament to the power of art to transform spaces and communities for the better.