Theory of evolution in new avatar – The New Indian Express

Cotton Hill LP school art work.

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Next time when you take your children to Cotton Hill Road be prepared to answer questions on dinosaurs and mammoths depicted on the compound wall of Cotton Hill LP school.

Drawings of atoms, animals and a little girl holding earth on a blue background have already been subjected to intense scrutiny by children. Parents will have to brush up their knowledge of Charles Darwins theory of evolution in order to sail through the sea of questions. But may be that wont be enough and there is a reason why.

The typical depiction of the Theory of Evolution shows the linear transition of a monkey to man. The drawings have all these elements but not in the order. One has to spend some time looking at the drawing and connect with the artists idea of evolution explained through various forms. The forms start from a simple round atom to more complicated ones including humans. The right side of the wall shows sea and land with simple organisms. The left side has more developed animals, civilisation and the message of conservation. It is an artists version of evolution, says Suvarna P, an award winning artist who created the concept and design.

She along with her husband Bijoy Balachandran and six other artists- Sabitha K, Akhil V, Ananda Krishna, Ananthu Krishnan, Jikky Christopher, Abhilash M - created the art work titled Kalachuvadukal with the funding from Department of Forest. The drawings are made in such a way so that children are able to connect it with many things. They can form different stories as per their interpretation, says Bijoy who runs Blueberries Animation in the city. The couples daughter Chandrabala studies in the LP school in third standard.

Suvarna won two state awards in 2007 and 2014. She is currently completing her Master of Fine Arts from Government Arts College here. The artist couple along with 100 students from the school had painted pictures on the walls of three classrooms last November. Forest Minister K Raju inaugurated the project on Tuesday.

School headmistress Celine M, who spearheaded the project, urged the minister to sanction funds to paint the walls of all the classrooms in the school with art works. The project has many stories to tell, not just to us but to the future generation as well, says the headmistress.

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Theory of evolution in new avatar - The New Indian Express