Creating to conserve

Until about a century ago it was easy to spot a tiger roaming about in its natural habitat. Today, the number of tigers in the wild is depleting at a frightening rate. If this trend continues, it won’t be long before tigers cease to exist. Tiger conservation efforts have therefore become the need of the hour for these animals. Echoing this sentiment, artist Fawad Tamkanat has brought together an art exhibition titled Tiger at the State Art Gallery scheduled on February 23 to support the cause. Eighty artists from all over India were given identical fiberglass tiger masks to explore their creative side, and they have come up with astounding masterpieces.

Elaborating on the conceptualisation and the execution of the idea, Fawad, who is also the curator of the show, says, “I’ve always been an animal lover and have always wanted to do some good for them. This idea of showcasing artworks on tiger masks occurred to me quite suddenly and after a brief experiment, I knew I had found the right medium. The selected artists come from different backgrounds; some are still budding while the others are prominent names. It was their enthusiasm to be a part of the cause which made me choose them.” Fawad took six months to put everything together, and he did so without any backing or sponsorship. The team is also in talks with the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) to join hands with them. “Art is something everybody can relate to. I am really happy to be associated with this initiative,” says Sapna Kar, marketing adviser for the show.

Further adding, Sapna says, “We intend to keep the pricing of these masks very competitive in order to reach out to buyers from outside Hyderabad as well. With a portion of the proceedings earned, we’re planning to buy a few cameras to keep track of tigers. Moreover, we will also build fences protecting different tiger reserves to limit human and animal contact.” The team is going to take the show to Mumbai and Delhi, too, on a later date.

Some of the participating artists have exemplified the connection between tigers and the Indian terrain in mythological stories and scriptures while others have superimposed varied metaphors and elements that enliven the surface of the mask, and all this while staying true to their individual style of work. These works undoubtedly celebrate the animal in its every royal avatar possible.