By Azera Rahman, IANS
New Delhi : For artist Rouble Nagi of Jammu and Kashmir, her life is a canvas with all the colours on it. But if there is anything else that she is as passionate about as art, it is the foundation she has established to help underprivileged budding artists.
Born in Jammu, Nagi, 26, has grown up travelling across different states in the country, a fact that has clearly reflected in the vibrancy of her works.
“My father was in the Indian Army. Thanks to his transfer every three years, I have grown up tasting the flavours of every state. And this has deeply influenced my art,” Nagi told IANS.
Well known in art circles, Nagi specialises in mural designing and has 800 murals in 33 different media to her credit. Always on the lookout for experimenting with different media – glass, ceramic and semi precious stones for instance – Nagi’s passion now is working for underprivileged kids.
Her association with children began when she started organising art camps for underprivileged and special children with an NGO Pratham in Mumbai and also in Delhi.
“I have been organising art camps and small projects for children for four years now. Save The Children was one such programme that was for kids with special needs. I had to look out for small details like which colour do they respond to so that I can paint something accordingly or ask them to. It was an amazing experience,” Nagi said.
This led Nagi to realise that she wanted to do more for kids than just organise occasional camps. “Hence I formed the Rouble Nagi Art Foundation (RNAF) that promotes talented young artists as well as helps underprivileged kids,” she said.
The foundation, which is supported by donors, helps young needy artists book art galleries and also gives them scholarships for admission to art schools.
“Forty percent of my earnings goes as proceeds to the foundation. Besides this, we are also planning to organise fund raising programmes to encourage more support for the foundation,” Nagi said.
Talking about some of the artists who the foundation has helped, Nagi referred to a talented young painter in Lucknow who paints with her toes.
“It’s amazing to watch her paint…the grit and the determination, plus her talent, simply overwhelms you. But she couldn’t afford to showcase her talent to the world.
“The foundation helped her put up a show at the Lalit Kala Akedemi in Mumbai where her work was exhibited. Not only did it get rave reviews but also most of her paintings got sold.
The foundation now plans to go to the place where Nagi was born – Jammu, the winter capital of Jammu and Kashmir.
“Kashmir is a small state and art lovers there form a part of a niche crowd… This time I went there, I saw people, especially children, interested in art and wanted to learn to draw. The foundation is next going to Jammu to help kids who want to learn but can’t afford it,” Nagi said.
“It’s a pity that until now, I have not been able to have my solo show there. But now, with the changing attitude, I plan to have my first solo show there by the end of this year,” she said.
Besides supporting artists, her foundation also helps other underprivileged children by funding their education.
“Not every child is inclined towards art. Those who are not are sent to a normal school and we fund their education,” Nagi said.
To highlight the foundation’s work and attract more support towards it, Nagi has roped in her cricketer friend Wasim Akram as brand ambassador.
“Wasim (Akram) is a good friend. He was more than eager to help. When a personality like him gets associated with anything, it demands attention,” Nagi said.
Besides Akram, filmmaker Subhash Ghai, art patron Asha Patel and Managing Director of Sona Group Sanjay Kapur are some of the people who support Nagi’s foundation.