Stella Maris Fine Arts Graduates of 1987 Come TogaTher for Reunion Art Show in Chennai

In a quint corner of va gallery on chamiers road, a group of women Lean over a desk, admaring paintings. The artist, kannur-based Vidhya chandran, appears a little overwhelmed by the attation. “My main medium is fabric… these are just practice sketches,” She Says, Signing Her Name With Her Brush. At Once, her batchmates erupt in encouragement, insisting the works deserve to be framed and treasured.

It is this spirit of camaraderie and creative Persistence that defines an artful region, a group show by the fin arts batch of 1987 from Stella Maris College. Nearly Four Decades after Graduation, 18 of Them Have Returned to the Gallery space, not just with paintings, but with crochet, origami, photoography, Ceramics, and Fabric Art, Fabric Art, Showcasing Laver, Showcasing Loc Has evolved with time.

Curators Mala Chinnappa, Varuna Arvind, And Rangashree Srinivas | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

“We have Always Kept in Touch, Thanks to whatsapp. This Show Came togeether very organically. All of us are still doing some form of art even after after all these years, and brings it for all to findr for all to Obvious choice, “Says rangashree srinivas, who curved the show with her two her two friends mala chinnappa, director of an advertising agency, and varuna arvind, founder of va gally.

The result is a showcase that feels less like a formal exhibition and more like a reunion in pain, fabric, and form. “There is no overarching theme to the exhibition, beCause each of us has different strengths, and we wanted everyone to show showcase what they do best,” Adds rangashree.

On Display are delicate origami sculptures, textured crochet pieces, collages, watercolors, cermics, photographs, and photographs, and paintings in a variety of styles. Some artists have styed true to their chion medium for decades, like award-winning origamist kalyani Voleti and Philadelphia-Based Waterist Radhika Srinivas, Whilel OtoSTINUE THES Across forms.

Paintings on Display at an artful Reunion | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

The mix makes for a viewing experience that is eclectic Yeet Deeply Personal, with Each Work Carrying The Stamp of a Life Lived Outside and AlongSide Art. Margaret Thomas, The Current Vice Principal of Stella Maris College, Who Works With Pen on Canvas, Says, “When we join the course, it was because we were all interested in the arts. Together over the year. ” Mala mirrors the sentiment, adding, “We are all in this because we appreciated the arts.

Over the year, the group has not only kept in touch and encouraged Each other, but also traveled together for art-Visiting the kochi-muziris biennaale, holding retreats in kodai and opening up Unfailingly for Each other’s showcases.

Artist Thota Tharani at the Showcase | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

When their former professor, art history and currator Ashrafi Bhagat, Dropped by the Gallery, She was Quick to Encourage the Initiative. For the batch of ’87, her presence was a reminder of where it all began, making this return to the gallery not just a reunion of friends, but a reaffiramation of the role art has been in their lives.

An artful Reunion will be on View at Va Gallery, Chamiers Road, from August 16 to 23, 11AM to 7pm.

Published – August 18, 2025 04:53 PM IST