by Dharam Prakash Gupta

The solo exhibition of colourful needle work by an amateur artist Sulakshna (Arya) – popularly known by her nickname Kaka, organized at Gaiety Theater Shimla from June 15 to 17, was not only a display of excellent handmade pieces of art work but also an inspiration for many to find a purpose from emptiness in life.

As many as sixty eight wall hangings with different colours of nature were displayed by the artists in her solo exhibition, which were essentially made to fight her loneliness and find a purpose after the sudden demise of her husband, a few years ago.

Basically, an advocate of repute specializing in income tax, she had quit her practice to devote time as a homemaker and pursue her passion to nurture and draw pleasure from nature. She has developed a beautiful garden having hosts of plants and flowers at a place called Madhuban in Shimla.

After having a hectic schedule to look after her ailing husband, loneliness and lack of purpose became the biggest challenge.  But not cowed down by despair, she looked forward to living a purposeful life by pursuing the art of needle work, taught by her mother during her childhood.

Telling about her journey of the needle work, Sulakshna said, “I was so engrossed in my mundane work at home and looking after my ailing husband, but his sudden departure made me completely lonely and empty; since I am not keen in lady gossiping or wandering I took to the art of needle work learnt during my childhood from my mother and sisters.”

“First I started doing needle work on shirts of my husband and then I started doing it on pieces of clothes and realized this filled my emptiness with a purpose and delight,” she adds.

Sulakshna never thought she would ever put her artwork prepared after a hard work of more than two years on display but then she realized an exhibition would get recognition for her work and inspire others.

The three day exhibition inaugurated by the Principal of RKMV Shimla Anurita Saxena drew large visitors and admiration from people from different walks of life.

As a message for people she says, “Colours of nature give you happiness, have a very soothing effect and depicting them in any art form is an excellent idea to make life purposeful.”

Though she has no intention to make money from her work but feels people can definitely make money through such work.

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