It’s been real Nift-y

What’s the best way to tell your students that you’re really proud of their work? Getting their creations promoted on a state-level platform, of course.

That’s exactly how students from the National Institute of Fashion Technology had artwork — which they had created for a college assignment — displayed at the State Gallery of Fine Arts for three days.

Given two themes — portraits and masterpiece recreation — around 40 first-year students created artworks earlier this year as part of their course’s Foundation Programme. “Through this they learn that design is not just for the sake of garments or textiles but also for fine arts works,” says, Dr V. Sarvani, an assistant professor. “This is a foundation for them to develop their visualisation representation skills, art aesthetics, elements of design and introduction to world cultures.”

Girl with a Pearl Earring recreated by a student
Having their exhibit inaugurated by Mr. B. Venkatesham, IAS, from the Telangana state government’s Tourism and Culture Department and attended by members of  fine arts community also helped students pride their work even more. The students, who are now in their second year, created portraits using half of a photograph of their original subject and recreating the other by hand. Says Prerana Miriyala, a Fashion Communication student who made a portrait of her twin sister, “It’s really surreal (having this exhibit). Before Nift I probably wouldn’t even have thought about looking at art in a professional manner.”

Accessory design student Parit Mishra, who took three days to complete his recreation of Pablo Picasso’s Guernica, said that he had already received requests to buy his painting, and added, “It feels very special to showcase our work on such a level.”