An artist's call to save birds

Pushed on the brink of extinction, many bird species are fighting a battle to simply survive in the urban world. Coming forth as a silent call for help, a unique exhibition of stimulating artworks by Delhi-based artist and conservationist Rupa Samaria opened in the national capital on Wednesday.

Titled "A Bird Call", the solo show harks back to a time when the chirping of birds was all around us.

"After my formal training in art, I joined a school, and we did a lot of projects on birds with kids. In fact, we went to Ranthambore every year with 5th graders for bird watching. During these years, I read and learnt a lot about birds and developed my deep interest in it. I quit my job and decided to follow my passion and do bird art.

"Through my artwork I am trying to create awareness among people. I want people to appreciate and become conscious of these lovely creatures which may have become extinct in the near future if we are not careful about our environment," Rupa told IANSlife.

The artist works across various mediums such as water colours, acrylics, charcoal, and even sculpture and interactive art to depict the various moods, poses and habitats of birds found across the Indian subcontinent like owls, sparrows, kingfishers, and numerous other native birds.

As she says, the aim of this show is to re-discover a world inhabited by one of the most familiar, unique and precious creatures that inhabit our planet -- birds.

The exhibition is live at Visual Arts Gallery, India Habitat Centre from March 18-22. IANS