The young at art

Not many artists get a chance to showcase their work in a solo exhibition at the prestigious Jehangir Art Gallery at the young age of 22. But Tanuj Bhramar has always been different. For starters, he steadfastly refuses to name his paintings, letting connoisseurs interpret them the way they wish. And while most artists make a living selling their works of art, this US-returned young man plans to donate 20 per cent of his earnings from the exhibition to fund the education of tribal children through Vikas Bharti, a Jharkhand-based NGO.

Tanuj Bhramar doesn't believe in giving a name to his paintings as he believes it conditions the minds of his audience

So while an exhibition by a young, talented artist is always a draw, Bhramar also scores with his big heart. As a child, Bhramar travelled across the country since his parents were IAS officers. But often, he celebrated his birthdays at Vikas Bharati with tribal children. "Since I know people who are associated with the NGO, I can be assured that the money will be used for the right cause. Right now, there is a small art school on the NGO's premises, I'm hoping that the proceeds from my exhibition will help them build a bigger school," Bhramar says. Art, of course , happened to him by chance. The constant travelling and frequent changing of schools as a child, prompted him to find solace in reading. Impressed by the art in comic books, he would try to sketch them in his free time. And then when he joined the elite Doon School as a teenager, he got introduced to oil paintings. In between, he went to the US to do a course in filmmaking at Columbia University. After returning to India six months ago, he realised that painting was his true calling and decided to pursue it seriously.

u00a0Why doesn't he name his paintings though? "A single painting may mean different things to different people. Once I give a name to my work, then in a way I condition the minds of my viewers," he argues. He also amalgamates music and painting and finishes most of his work while listening to his favourite songs. "I have always loved music and paint while listening to songs. My work is an amalgamation of surrealistic and expressionistic paintings," he signs off.

When: Till February 6
Where: Jehangir Art Gallery, 161 Kala Ghoda
Call: 22843989