Art Has Great Social Value: Giulia Ambrogi, St+Art India Foundation

Where did the idea of establishing the St+art Foundation originate from? Share its vision and mission.

The idea of St+art came about from our collective view that art has great social value and is a medium of positive change and a catalyst of great dialogues of inclusivity and intersectionality. We are intrigued by art in public spaces because it naturally reaches a broader audience, including those who don't typically visit museums or galleries, due to limited access. Moreover, we found that the Indian streets, given how they connect many people from diverse milieus, would be perfect for the inclusive art we wanted to make. Since we began the first project in 2014, our understanding of different stakeholders and many other factors involved deepened, creating an impact on the projects we did. Our vision was and remains, to create meaningful public spaces via art and to open art up to a larger audience.

We aim to empower artists from India and abroad by providing a platform for collaboration and synergy to amplify their voices and creativity. As our journey continued and more artists joined, we began experimenting with different formats and spaces, leading us to witness first-hand the therapeutic possibilities of art. That is how the idea of St+art Care came about. We observed via data analysis and interviews that our projects have prompted positive responses from the audience, especially children who felt stimulated by the art we were striving to create. Seeing this, we wanted to engage more with more children and younger demographics from vulnerable backgrounds via St+art Care, involving them in the artistic processes.

Shine some light on project Sparsh and the collaboration with Asian Paints.

Project Sparsh began with many consultations with our vision partner Asian Paints. After having done multiple projects with Asian Paints including a public pediatric hospital in Noida, Mumbai Urban Art Festival and the Art Districts all over India, we were really taken by the idea of inclusivity across many aspects. We were intrigued by the idea of how Visual Arts can be translated into an immersive experience without the sense of sight. The project goes beyond the impact a typical visual art piece has on the audience, thus taking the tactile approach. In that regard, the collaboration with Asian Paints was interesting as they work with different textures with their Royale Play Collection. Their experiment with texture was a meeting point between us, as we wanted to translate the visual into a tactile feeling of how a space changes with art.

We partnered with 'Access for All', a non-profit focused on inclusivity, playing a crucial role in creating tactile braille murals and plaques. Their collaboration aligns with our project's vision encapsulated by the hashtag, #ArtForAll.

During our visit to the Rajasthan Netraheen Kalyan Sangh school in Jaipur, we gained insights into the students' world and discovered that many challenges related to inclusivity arise from a stigma rooted in a lack of awareness about their issues. This is why, keeping that sensitivity in mind we wanted to do black and white, textured murals that represent a transcendence of colours. The tactile Braille dots seamlessly blended with Bandej, an iconic textile art of Rajasthan, to form a unique sensory experience. The outer elements featured the rich heritage of Rajasthan, showcasing flora and fauna with a touch of Braille. Our focus on the project's tactile experience, prioritising feel over visuals, ensures enjoyment for individuals with visual impairment. Additionally, we aimed to represent the traditional art of Rajasthan in a subversive manner.

Explain briefly about tactile artwork and how it can help visually impaired children experience the joy of art.

While the façade has a braille artwork which help the visually impaired children understand art, we have also created more indoor work with textures of Asian Paints that aims to go beyond visual experiences. Utilising textures from Asian Paints Royale Play range, we go beyond the visual, allowing the children to intimately engage with the rich Rajasthani art that distinguishes the region globally. The artwork provides a multidimensional experience of the culture they've only encountered in words, offering a meaningful way for them to connect with a culture that significantly influences their lives.

It's a great way to exhibit regional culture through such art forms. Do you have any plans for carrying out such initiatives in other cities and towns?

Our vision extends beyond individual cities as we plan to implement these initiatives on a broader scale and explore diverse project formats for substantial impact. In collaboration with Asian Paints, our goal is to establish a platform that engages with schools and institutions, prioritising functionality. We envision others taking the lead and enriching similar initiatives, turning Project Sparsh into an inspiring example. With Asian Paints, we aspire to set a template for schools and educational centers, fostering innovation and expanding accessibility of art and culture across different levels and spaces.

Creative learning is a significant part of education. Is there a need for revamping our school curriculum to include arts and crafts?  

We must advocate for curriculum reform, emphasising creative learning, as history shows that some of the greatest minds, like Leonardo Da Vinci, excelled in both arts and analytical pursuits. Scientifically, creative thinking is crucial even in analytical fields. Unfortunately, our current education neglects art after a certain age, hindering imagination potential. This loss raises questions about missed discoveries. We need to shift from the Neo-liberal approach, valuing functionality over all, recognising the importance of pairing functionality with robust artistic thinking.

What steps according to you should be taken by the government to make visually impaired students self-sufficient and financially independent?

The question delves into a complex issue involving various layers of intersectionality. The critical concern that deserves global attention is providing equal opportunities to vulnerable minorities, ensuring their self-sufficiency and independence in financial, social and psychological aspects. There is a substantial journey ahead in learning how to navigate differences and support minorities effectively, especially in the treatment of visually impaired individuals. Through Project Sparsh, we aspire to spark interest and, with collective understanding and efforts, make strides in aiding visually impaired communities.