Czech out these teens

Linocut printing is a tough technique. It’s time-consuming and one small error usually means starting all over again.

But 15-year-olds A. Shreetej and M. Mounika Reddy from Hyderabad have not only mastered the art, but they will now be representing India in Czech Republic as they have won the prestigious, “Rose of Lidice” award at the 44th International Fine Arts Exhibition for Children.

The two are thrilled about the award. “Out of the 18,000 odd entries from across the world, 77 were chosen and we were the only ones from India,” says Mounika. For someone who started painting as a hobby when she was in Class V, she went on to learn techniques as tough as linocut. “It was tough in the beginning. I would end up hurting my fingers, but I have improved,” says Mounika whose work was about a girl selling puppets.

Shreetej says, “I’ve been learning to paint since I was four years and by the time I was eight I was learning the linocut method.” But, the challenges were plenty. “Only after years of practise was I able to get a grip on the technique. At first I was quite slow, but then I picked up pace,” he adds.

The two kids, who belong to the rural art centre Sanskriti, are set to receive the award on May 30 in Prague. Padma Reddy, a working member of the art centre says, “As part of our curriculum, we host workshops every week and when the children create artwork we send them across to different competitions around the world.

“This time, too, we did the same and out of the lot, the works of Shreetej and Mounika wereselected.”