KOZHIKODE: The Finnish artist Weera Kulppi, 22, was the cynosure of all eyes at the painting exhibition of girl children from Sukrutham home for abandoned girls, held the other day in Gudhaam art gallery here. Travelling all the way from Finland to Kerala, Ms Kulppi said that she came as a volunteer and started experimenting with art to explore ways to empower the children. Accompanied by Eliel Kulppi, her three-year-old son, Ms Kulppi who is a student of Social Sciences, said that her experiences in life inspired her to do something for the abandoned girl children.
Ms Kulppi had hit upon a blog on the Sukritham girls home written by one who had stayed here earlier as a volunteer. Later she sought permission of the institution which was granted. “See, at my age travelling all the way to India, that too with a child, exploring avenues to empower girls, feels a little crazy, right?”, she asks. “It was joy that mattered, not the technical perfection of the paintings”, she said, adding that though they were hesitant at the beginning, all the children started exploring their might on canvas.
Pointing at the paintings,Ms Kulppi said that now the children would be feeling great because their art works came with a commendable price tag. “Initially they were doubtful asking me “can we? Can we? But, now they are confident of their talent”, she added. “I have helped them to get free of their inhibitions and now they dream big”, she said. Children like them are more confident than the rest, she added. On her experience, Ms Kulppi said while she had inspired the girls to enter into the world of colours, they had taught her more on many aspects of life.
Weera Kulppi flew back to Finland on Tuesday, hoping to come back to the land and people she loved so much.
