MUMBAI: A couple of years ago, a friend told artist Tanaji Awaghade that his wife was depressed and even felt suicidal. Awaghade gave her a sketchbook and told her just to draw. Anything that she liked. Drawing exercise supplemented treatment and, after a few months, the women felt better as her appetite improved and regained hope in life.
Art, according to Awagadhe, 58, has therapeutic impact and just looking at good paintings can improve moods. He says that mere drawing lines or circles can have positive effects on human psyche.
“I tell people that if you have nothing else to do, just draw. It diverts your mind from negative thoughts and creates a positive vibe. Drawing also helps improve concentration,” says the Karad (Satara)-based artist who is exhibiting some of his works at Jio World Convention Centre, BKC between May 31 to June 2.
Growing up in a village in Satara district, Awaghade began painting when he was in school. His flair with painting drew fellow school boys to him to get their names written on bicycles. Then he began visiting temples. “I am fascinated by temples, especially its geometry. I find a positive energy at the garbha griha (sanctum santorum) of temples,” says the artist who has visited almost all famous temples in the country, including Kamakhya (Assam), many in Rishikesh, Haridawar and even some in Nepal and Bhutan. He says the Ram Temple in Ayodhya is yet to be visited.
His visits to and close observation of the temples’ sanctum santorum has reaffirmed his faith in spiritualism. “I am not a dogmatic person. I believe that there is a divine force which controls this universe, but I don’t insist on worshipping deities,” he says.
A strong advocate of drawing in schools, he says that drawing should be taught nas a compulsory subject in schools and marks obtained in board exams should be counted while preparing results. “In our country, not much emphasis is given in drawing as it is seen as part of extracurricular activities. It should bebin curriculum,”says the artist who had dropped out of an art school but it is his wife who encouraged him to join Dalvis Art Institute in Kolhapur from where he did diploma in Fine Arts (painting). He credits his wife for much of his success today as she, a school teacher, became a pillar of support, both financially and emotionally.
Art, according to Awagadhe, 58, has therapeutic impact and just looking at good paintings can improve moods. He says that mere drawing lines or circles can have positive effects on human psyche.
“I tell people that if you have nothing else to do, just draw. It diverts your mind from negative thoughts and creates a positive vibe. Drawing also helps improve concentration,” says the Karad (Satara)-based artist who is exhibiting some of his works at Jio World Convention Centre, BKC between May 31 to June 2.
Growing up in a village in Satara district, Awaghade began painting when he was in school. His flair with painting drew fellow school boys to him to get their names written on bicycles. Then he began visiting temples. “I am fascinated by temples, especially its geometry. I find a positive energy at the garbha griha (sanctum santorum) of temples,” says the artist who has visited almost all famous temples in the country, including Kamakhya (Assam), many in Rishikesh, Haridawar and even some in Nepal and Bhutan. He says the Ram Temple in Ayodhya is yet to be visited.
His visits to and close observation of the temples’ sanctum santorum has reaffirmed his faith in spiritualism. “I am not a dogmatic person. I believe that there is a divine force which controls this universe, but I don’t insist on worshipping deities,” he says.
A strong advocate of drawing in schools, he says that drawing should be taught nas a compulsory subject in schools and marks obtained in board exams should be counted while preparing results. “In our country, not much emphasis is given in drawing as it is seen as part of extracurricular activities. It should bebin curriculum,”says the artist who had dropped out of an art school but it is his wife who encouraged him to join Dalvis Art Institute in Kolhapur from where he did diploma in Fine Arts (painting). He credits his wife for much of his success today as she, a school teacher, became a pillar of support, both financially and emotionally.