Among the many standout pieces in the student-led art display was Janaki Varma’s ‘Unravel’, a series of five canvases created using mixed media. Each canvas vividly represented a critical moment in Draupadi’s life, beginning with her never-ending miseries, including being objectified and gambled away, the disrobing incident, and the humiliation that led to her vowing to never tie her hair until she could do so with the blood of the perpetrator.
Janaki’s presentation of Draupadi’s revenge was particularly striking. She depicted Bhima, Draupadi’s husband, in his most ferocious form called Roudrabheeman, a character traditionally seen in Kathakali. “In Kathakali, each character has a designated type of makeup and costume, and Roudrabheeman’s getup is iconic for its portrayal of raw fury and vengeance,” she said, adding, “Since I’m from Kerala, I used this connection to add a personal touch to my depiction.”
Her canvas showed the moment Bhima avenged Draupadi by ripping open Dushasana’s belly and tying Draupadi’s hair with the former’s blood and intestines—a moment of cathartic liberation.
The canvas in the middle particularly emphasised this dramatic moment, drawing from the Kathakali tradition, where a red rope is used in the performance. But Janaki chose to represent it with realistic, gory intestines, making the visual even more powerful.
Janaki’s other works in the exhibition included ‘Regenerate’, a wooden sculpture depicting Sita from the Ramayana, and ‘Eye-solated’, a ceramic and resin piece inspired by the Greek myth of Medusa. These showed her versatility across different media and cultural inspirations.
The exhibition, which featured around 25 students from classes 6 to 12, was led by Prabhav Dabriwal, a 12th-grade student and president of the CHIREC Art Club.
Prabhav explained that the concept of the exhibition focused on Telangana and its culture but students were encouraged to explore various themes, including mythology, feminism, domestic violence, and the Telugu script, across a range of artistic media.
His own contribution to the exhibit included a model of the Charminar made entirely out of playing cards, symbolising the mathematical symmetry of the monument. He also designed pieces which supported the concept of sustainable living, using repurposed PVC pipes and exploring concepts like modular architecture and eco-friendly living spaces.
Overall, the exhibition was a great platform for young, emerging artists to explore their creativity and express complex themes in innovative ways. It not only highlighted their technical skills but also showcased the depth of their understanding of culture, mythology, and contemporary issues
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