Brushing away autism stereotypes

Link to article: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/brushing-away-autism-stereotypes/articleshow/62226187.cms

PANAJI: Sanjna Srikanth, a young Bengaluru-based artist, is like no other girl her age. She has been raising money for charities through the sale of her paintings from the time she was only a teenager. Sanjna’s paintings have toured the World Economic Forum, and, in 2014, she received the International Diana award from the British prime minister, given in recognition of young people.

Sanjna is also unlike most other 21-year-olds. She has achieved all this while living with communication challenges diagnosed as being caused by autism.

In Goa as part of her fourth solo exhibition, on display at Kala Academy, Sanjna’s strong line-drawing and bright colours appears like the marriage of the pop art and cubism movements. In a unique twist, most artworks have been displayed alongside a sculptural interpretation of the painting – which have been sculpted by Sanjna’s teacher, Vinod Shahapure.

The artist was born to Jayashree and Srikanth (from Chennai) when the couple was based in the USA. “Everyday is a challenge for Sanjna, but from a young age she has been determined to inspire her peers to be their best,” says her mother.

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Braving hurdles, Sanjna dabbles in art

Link to article: http://www.navhindtimes.in/braving-hurdles-sanjna-dabbles-in-art/

21-year-old Bangalore-based Sanjna Srikanth will be exhibiting her works at Kala Academy on December 23 and December 24. NT Kuriocity gets an insight into her art and life

Janice Savina Rodrigues | NT Kuriocity

Sanjna Srikanth’s penchant for colours and eye for art was discovered approximately the same time she was diagnosed with autism. For her parents her affinity to art came as a lifesaver as it gave her a boost in every aspect of life. Born and raised in USA, her parents thought it best to educate her by means of homeschooling and part time regular schooling, a system followed in the western countries quite often.

“When we moved to India, I decided to follow the same system here, and enrolled her for part time schooling in the Bangalore International School, while continuing with the home schooling programme with the Learning Community International School, Maryland, USA, where she graduated from high school in June 2015,” says Jayshree, Sanjna’s mother.

Jayshree says that it was once Sanjna was in Bangalore that her talent was spotted and groomed by the school and its teachers. Since then, she has been under the tutelage of art teachers Dodamani, Malamma Pal and Vinodh Shahpuri. Sanjna is good with computers and she has successfully even secured a Diploma in 3D animation, from the Picasso Animation College, Bangalore. She also began to grow more confident and her overall development too saw a lot of improvement with her involvement in art.

Sanjna’s love for colours comes off vividly in her art; her art is spontaneous and has an innocence that is characteristic of a young mind. “Earlier she was fascinated with faces, so she would draw a lot of portraits and still life with people, but of late her art has shifted to that of stripes and abstract art objects using a lot of colours,” says Jayshree. For her creative works Sanjna relies on mediums like pencil, charcoal, dry pastel, oil pastel, though she says she doesn’t like oil paints much, but loves to dabble with new media as and when she gets the chance.

She has had three solo exhibitions in the past, the first being when she was just 16 when she had over 40 artworks on display and on sale, the proceeds of which went to the Sunshine Autism School, Bangalore.

The exhibition in Kala Academy will also have sculptures based on Sanjna’s artworks, done by her art teacher Vinodh Shahpuri.

Sanjna will be exhibiting her works on December 23 and December 24 at Kala Academy Art Gallery.

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Cisco Olympians, Rio 2016 – Faster, Higher, Stronger

Through art, Srikanth and his autistic daughter Sanjna are inspiring others to go ‘Faster, Higher, Stronger’ in spite of disability.

“We never believed in the stereotypes,”

Srikanth says. “Autism is just a diagnosis – it should not be seen as a label. Every child has a talent, and that talent has to be promoted. We want to convey the message that the world has to go beyond stereotyping and beyond labels.” Srikanth will carry that message and mission with him next summer, when he represents Cisco as a participant in the 2016 Paralympic Torch Relay in Brazil.

“The Paralympic Games are a symbol of courage and inspiration to what is possible,” Srikanth says. “The aesthetics of sports is intangible. Let us change the way we work, live, play and learn for a faster, higher and stronger future!”

Upon receiving Sanjna’s diagnosis many years ago, Srikanth and his wife Jayashree determined to focus on their daughter’s ability rather than her disability. As a child, Sanjna showed an amazing artistic talent, using the various mediums to express herself in ways that she could not always do verbally. With her talent nurtured by the Bangalore International School, and supported by her parents, Sanjna hosted her first solo art exhibition at age 16 with more than 45 paintings and drawings. The show raised more than 40,000 Indian rupees, and the entire proceeds were donated to Sunshine Autism Trust, a local school in Bangalore specializing in children with autism.

As Sanjna’s paintings began to draw notice on a national and international scale, Srikanth and his wife resolved to always use the opportunity and exposure to spread awareness for people with special needs and work towards an equal opportunity world.

“We feel that Sanjna has the opportunity to be an inspirational role model to her peers and show what is possible despite disability and the challenges that autism presents,” Srikanth says. “She has dreams, and we have dreams for her as her parents.”

In 2014, Sanjna received the International Diana Award from the British Prime Minister, given in recognition of young people who are changing the world. Today, Sanjna continues to paint and raise awareness and funds for autism and people with special needs. She recently graduated high school and is now pursuing a bachelor of fine arts degree.

While Sanjna’s achievements are remarkable, her path has not been without incredible challenges along the way. As a young girl, she faced severe food allergies that prevented the family from even eating out at a restaurant. She was ridiculed by her peers at school for her communication difficulties. Her parents eventually decided to homeschool Sanjna to give her the individualized attention she would need.

When the family – including 15-year-old Ritu – travels to Brazil next summer, Sanjna will bring with her a painting to donate to the Paralympic Games as a memorial of their experience.

“For a ‘Faster, Higher, Stronger’ world, we need all kinds of minds,” Srikanth says. “Let us respect the ‘ability’ in disability, strive for the moral beauty and together change the world.”

Full article here- https://www.cisco.com/c/r/pt/br/rio2016/featured/cisco-olympians/srikanth-en.html

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A Poetic Response

To be able to express through a visual language is a gift given to some; and when it is explored deeply it gives as much joy to the one expressing, as to its viewers. Sanjna’s drawings and paintings reflect her ability to construct new worlds through the rhythmic qualities of line and colour – she is gifted with the sensitivity to translate her experiences into images that communicate.

People, objects, flora and fauna inhabit her works, sometimes finished to the last detail, and at times leading towards the abstract. She weaves together her personal stories, thoughts and myths, establishing a distinct atmosphere within each frame. She interprets the complexities of space through design and pattern, embedding them within the forms, or creating windows within the picture plane. The characters she portrays are reflective of intensely true expressions; one could possibly recognise her inspirations outside of her paintings. She relies on graphically constructed form as the base for her other renderings, and fluidly combines the real with the imagined.

Having begun her tryst with art at the tender age of three years, Sanjna has not looked back, and has experimented with several different mediums, including pencil, charcoal, paints and ink. There exists in her work and spontaneity and simplicity, and an uncomplicated representation of life around her. In a poetic way, nothing is too mundane or insignificant to become part of her creative work. It is as if she puts her very self into the lines, giving them her all, and allows them to take her where they will.

Each time she puts a pencil or paint to paper, she is taking another step forward towards that artistic vision that is purely her own.

Lina Vincent Sunish,  Art Historian (written for the India Inclusion Summit Nov’13)

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Speaking through Art, The Hindu, December 25, 2014

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Talking in Paint, Indian Express, October 10, 2014-

http://indulge.newindianexpress.com/talking-in-paint/bangalore/18498

An international award for youngsters inspires art and charity work

Fascinated by colour, the ability to express herself visually is a lifeline for Sanjna Srikanth, who has struggled with communication issues. Her paintings have been auctioned to raise funds for the Sunshine Autism Trust and the teenager is actively involved in raising awareness on disability and inclusion issues. The Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Award, which is given to inspirational young people worldwide every year and is headed by patron British PM David Cameron, was in recognition for this work.

Brush strokes

Srikanth’s art combines bold lines and colours with a particular focus on patterns and motifs. Drawing inspiration from international masters including Picasso and Van Gogh, she has also been influenced by Indian artists such as Maya Burman and Madhvi, as well as the Madhubani folk form. Coming across Srikanth’s work for the first time, “I was mesmerized with Sanjna’s use of line and emotions,” says art historian Komal Khankhoje. In the last two years, Srikanth has held a solo exhibition and sale of her art, and donated work to auctions at the India Inclusion summit, and the Ability in Disability presentation at the World Economic Forum in Davos.

Moving forward

While her artistic journey began as a form of communication therapy, Srikanth hopes to make her hobby a full-time profession, and dreams of attending art college. Since moving back from the US four years ago, art classes at the Bangalore International School have pushed her to fulfil her potential. Srikanth’s art is available to browse online, and art lovers can send in queries via her website. A new exhibition of work is planned for 2015.

Details: sanjnasrikanth.com

— Maegan Dobson Sippy

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“The very talented artiste, Sanjna(her painting which I used at Davos) wins the international Diana Award. Congrats!”

“Sanjna’s artwork on Van Gogh was perfect for my presentation “Thinking Ahead with Young Global Leaders” at World Economic Forum, Davos, 2013. Having done painting in my early days, I can only say Sanjna’s work is beautiful and very inspiring…”

V.R. Ferose, Senior Vice President, SAP Labs

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