Drawing inspiration from cityscapes are Urban Sketchers in different Indian cities
The Hindu
Drawing inspiration from cityscapes are Urban Sketchers in different Indian cities
A splash of red here, a dab of white there, some fine lines in black, followed by a sweep of blue…. At the end of two-and-a-half hours, the watercolours on the white paper take on the shape of the heritage building of P Orr and Sons in Chennai. A work in pen and ink focusses on the clock tower; a sketch in pencil maps the façade of the iconic building; a pen work details the Indo-Saracanic and Byzantine features of the architecture.
“Each work has a different perspective, a new take on the same structure. We map the city, sketch by sketch. That’s why we are called Urban Sketchers (USk),” says Namita Ravichandran, a graphic designer and member of the Chennai chapter.
Started by Mohan Krishnan, a documentary maker, in 2020, the Chennai chapter is the latest to be recognised (on Monday July 17) as an official regional chapter of the international USk community. Although the pandemic played spoilsport, once restrictions on social interactions were lifted, the USk Chennai has been meeting fortnightly, on Sundays, to sketch vantage points, landmarks and heritage structures in Chennai.
The chapter is part of a global network of Urban Sketchers headquartered in Seattle, US. The first Indian chapter was started in Pune in 2015 by architect and art enthusiast Sanjeev Joshi. He happened to attend a symposium in Singapore as an instructor.
“I enjoyed the synergy of sketching as a group. I learned how I could start a chapter in India and began one in Pune,” says Sanjeev. At present, the Pune chapter is one of the biggest in India with 2,000-plus members on their facebook page. About 90 to 100 people attend the weekly sessions on Sundays.
The second was begun in Goa in 2017 by Darpana Athale, an architect who was part of USk Pune. The chapters have grown organically across India. Every chapter has three administrators who coordinate the working of that chapter.
Architect S Jayakrishnan, founder of USk Thiruvananthapuram, says that initially, the group was confined to Europe and North America. “Singapore was the first venue of USk in Asia. The next was at Bangkok. There, we decided to have a Asian Sketchlink for the continent. The next meet will be at Suooon, Korea in September-October,” he says.
Amol Palekar advocates against pre-censorship in films and theatre, urging the government to protect artists' freedom of expression.
BJP legislators demand release of Hindu monk Chinmoy Krishna Das in Bangladesh, threatening protests and border blockade if demands not met.
Odisha loses 790 elephants in a decade, with electrocution as the leading cause of unnatural deaths.
ASI issues notice to halt construction at Arya Akshobhya Teertha Mutt near Rameshwara temple in Shivamogga.
Madurai High Court orders removal of encroachments along Madurai-Dindigul highway, Corporation and Highways Department officials conduct joint operation.
Maharashtra Congress chief initiates signature campaign for return of ballot papers, sparking nationwide debate on EVMs.
Udupi Deputy Commissioner K. Vidyakumari on Wednesday directed the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to undertake periodical maintenance of NH66 without giving room for complaints.
Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw updates Lok Sabha on Konkan Railway Corporation Ltd. shareholding, Goa willing to relinquish.
One dies, eight hospitalised after inhaling HCL fumes at pharma company in Andhra Pradesh’s Anakapalli district. About 400 litres of HCL leaked from the reactor-cum-receiver tank at Unit-III of the company, which affected nine workers, says Collector. While the condition of six of them is stable, two are on ventilator support. Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu directs authorities to provide advanced treatment to the victims. Home Minister Anitha expresses anger over repeated such incidents.
Parents and social workers in Thoothukudi request new Anganwadi buildings due to unsafe conditions in current rental buildings.
Delta districts face heavy rainfall, prompting coordinated efforts to mitigate damages, with NDRF teams deployed for rescue operations.