National Doctors’ Day: Hey docs, you rock!

Works by Dr Shriram Upadhye

India marks National Doctors' Day today, July 1, and amid all the applause about frontline fighters, and Covid-19 warriors, art curator Sanjukta Arun Barik wanted to salute them with a difference.

Barik, who runs a virtual art studio and gallery, La Aartemisia, will showcase works of doctors, in a month-long exhibition called ‘Confluence-1: where the brush meets the lens' beginning today. The works will be uploaded on the La Aartemisia website (https://www.laaartemisia.com) and promoted on different social media handles. The aim of this exhibition is succinct and straightforward: it is to celebrate creativity by doctors on a virtual platform.

Dr Sumedh Pacharaney

The curator said, "We have more than 160 works, at least 27 doctors from across India and even the UK have their pieces at this exhibition. Most are paintings and photographs with pictures of a few clay sculptures."

Barik, who is Bandra-based, thought this was an apt way to honour doctors, many of whom posted their creative works on social media. "Some of these works were of professional standard, so I reached out to the creators. I witnessed several medical persons had upped their artistic output in the pandemic. They were pressed for time, but this acted as a stress-buster." Barik emphasised that every work has been chosen on artistic merit, not simply because the creators were doctors.

Orthodontist Dr Ashok Karad realised that clinical photography, "taking pictures of patients, their teeth," segued effortlessly into other kinds of photography. Karad, whose works will be part of Confluence-1 trained his lens on nature and found a treasure trove. Karad drove down from Mumbai to Karnataka with a friend when the lockdown restrictions eased in 2020.

The birds of Ganeshgudi (Dandeli region) on his camera will be set free on the virtual platform today.

Dr Ali Tunkiwala will be among those displayed

Likewise for city dentist Dr Sumedh Pacharaney, who started sketching in graphite pencil just a couple of years ago, and uses charcoal too now. "The sketching is a relief from stress. What we do is our profession, it cannot be our entire identity. This helps develop different facets of our personality," he said.

General surgeon Dr Shriram Upadhye from Nashik said, "I do photography, paint and am into cartooning, so I am unsure which work is going to be displayed today." The doctor said his foray began when he became admin of a huge social media group of Grant Medical College alumni.

"I was told to keep the group engaged, so I started posting some work online. These can become conversation starters," said the surgeon.

Dentist Dr Ali Tunkiwala found his exploration of birding and landscape photography, has a "calming effect" and he explained, "it is catharsis from the mundane. It also taught me to respect the planet and gratitude for all I have in life."

Participant Dr Ian D'Souza believes when he trains his camera on birds, "I am continuing the legacy of my ‘shikaari' father who loved the outdoors." The cancer surgeon said, "Whether you get a platform or not, I affirm that everybody should have a hobby," said the Powai surgeon who chuckled as he signed off.

Doc talk
The show can be viewed at: https://www.laaartemisia.com and it is free