‘The Obscure’ by The Secret Garden students

‘The Obscure,’ an exhibition by the students of The Secret Garden art school inspired by microscopic images, was held at the JDA Perera Art Gallery on Horton Place on 30 September and 1 October, in commemoration of World Children’s Day and The Secret Garden’s eighth anniversary. The children worked for approximately 2.6 months to complete their exhibits. On display were canvases painted with acrylic paint, satin wall hangings, clay lichens recreated on rock and terracotta pots decorated with abstract images. The lessons leading up to the exhibition had the children looking at plant cells, bacteria, various liquids, feathers, pond water, etc., under the microscope. Children were amazed at the reality that we are surrounded by a microscopic world that is beautiful, surreal, mesmerizing, and unlike anything the naked human eye perceives. This exposure to the obscure gave way to contemporary, abstract concepts that were inspired by these images. Children were given the freedom to experiment and express with lines, colour and texture and create art that inspires. This resulted in a unique fusion of original ideas and concepts that appealed to the sublime. The originality of the exhibition, the talent, dedication and hard work that children invested made this day an absolute success. The Chief Guest was Azara Jaleel, Editor and Founder of the Artra Magazine in Sri Lanka. Children work within The Secret Garden under the guidance of art educationalist, art therapy practitioner and early childhood educator, ​​Priscilla Caren Anandappa.