India’s Got Talent: Meet 7 Differently-Abled Artists Who Are a Class Apart

Using art as a medium to express oneself and touch the lives of others is indeed a beautiful gift. In a land of rich artistic heritage, we find a wide range of artists experimenting with various forms of art. India is also home to nearly a 100 differently-abled artists. In a bid to promote some of these artists, three students from Shri Ram College of Commerce and IIT Delhi came together to start iOTA. They plan to hold an exhibition displaying the works of these differently-abled artists and want to create an ecosystem that supports a sustainable future for them.

Meet the artists:

1. Sheela Sharma

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Sheela Sharma is a talented foot artist. After losing her hands and almost a foot in a train accident, Sheela came across an artist in Delhi who used to paint without hands. This is what inspired her to give a shot at painting with her foot. She quotes M.F. Hussain and Amrita Sher-Gil as her influences. She often depicts emotions like empathy, love, and bonding.

2. Shreekant Dubey

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Shreekant Dubey is a famous name in the world of art. After an electric pole fell on him at the age of 14, Shreekant lost his right arm. But this did not stop him. With a Masters in Fine Arts, Shreekant’s paintings are sold at exhibitions across the country.

3. C.V. Surendran

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Due to a neuromuscular disease, C.V. Surendran has been on a wheelchair since the age of 14. But this hasn’t come in his way. Surendran uses ballpoint pens for his art. He draws complex landscapes with figures, animals, etc. He takes two or three months to complete each painting.

4. Amita Dutta

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Amita was asked to quit school after class 9 as the school didn’t have the facility to teach a deaf child. But Amita completed her schooling from National Open School and did a diploma in interior design. She uses coffee as a medium to paint and wants to inspire others to become artists.

5. Vipul Mittal

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Photo source: desiredwings.com/iota

Vipul is a mute artist. He portrays life and time as illusions. He may be quiet, but his art speaks volumes. Vipul experiments a lot with colour. He employs the use of numbers in his works.

6. Shivraj Singh

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Shivraj Singh, who is affected by polio, is a famous sculptor. His works have been featured in prestigious galleries across the country. He has conducted a variety of workshops for children. His art is abstract at times. He draws inspiration from African tribal sculptures.

7. Neelesh Ganesh

Photo source: desiredwings.com/iota

Neelesh Ganesh has autism. This 23-year-old makes paintings of music and God. His powerful paintings often leave others speechless. Neelesh has an interest in literature and wants to study it in future.

iOTA plans to hold its first exhibition at a premier art gallery in Delhi. For this purpose, it has started a crowdfunding initiative. In the long run, iOTA also plans to create an online platform to give these artists the required exposure and recognition. For more details, visit the website.

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