Art educator Prithvi Prabhu (centre) with students of Pratibha Academy and their art at IIWC
| Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
The Indian Institute of World Culture is hosting an art exhibition titled, Karnataka – Celebration of the State’s Cultural Tapestry. On display are close to 100 works of art, which have been created by 60 students of Pratibha Academy in Banashankari.
“Our students have spent all the free time they had over the past four months to put this show together. The exhibition is dedicated to this year’s Karnataka Rajyothsava,” says Prithvi Prabhu, art educator at Pratibha Academy.
“Most schools conduct art exhibitions, but we were overwhelmed by public response to last year’s show; it encouraged us host another one this year. My mentor, artist Sanjay Chapolkar and art enthusiast Venkatesh Arakali of the Indian Institute of World Culture, helped in promoting the students’ interests,” says Prithvi, who has been in the field of art for 12 years now.
“Though many of my students at Pratibha Academy have a passion for portraiture, the exhibition showcases different genres created using colour pencils, oil pastels, graphite and charcoal.”
Talking about why portraiture is considered more challenging, Prithvi says, “The concentration required to mirror the features of one’s subject is intense. It depends on the artist’s interest and how their cognition reacts to this demand. Landscapes are more forgiving as changes in depiction are acceptable; in portraits, an accurate likeness is the aim.”
Some of the notable portraits include those of Mysore Vasudevacharya, Raja Ravi Varma, DV Gundappa, Badami Banashankari, Shringeri Sharadamba, celebrated Kannada poets Ranna and Pampa, dancer Maya Rao, heroes of the screen Rajkumar, Sharapanjara Shivaram and Kalpana, Alur Venkat Rao and painter and sculptor K Venkatappa.
A students of Pratibha Academy at IIWC
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement
With Karnataka as the theme, there was no dearth of topics pertaining to the state for artists to capture.
Starting young
“We are trying to blend tradition and modern pedagogy; this was the wish of my grandparents when they started the institution to serve society,” says Deepti Navaratna, who heads Pratibha Academy today. Founded by freedom fighters Ahalya Bai and Navaratna Raghavendra Rao, “the school was established in 1962, with the aim of inclusive education that gave students from all walks of life a firm grounding not only in academics but also life skills, art and sport,” she adds.
Recognising Raghavendra Rao’s contributions, the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi honoured him with the Tamarapatra Award.
Deepti, who is a neuro-scientist herself, says, “The Academy has a legacy of blending traditional and modern pedagogy to suit contemporary demands. We have adopted a neuro-science based teaching methodology that aligns with how the student’s brain processes and understands concepts. Apart from the formal educational curriculum, interactive activities for experiential learning with art, music, yoga, several sports, and robotics form a part of our comprehensive learning philosophy.”
Karnataka – Celebration of the State’s Cultural Tapestry is on display at the Indian Institute of World Culture, Basavanagudi from December 19-21. Entry free.
Published – December 18, 2025 08:59 pm IST
