‘Srinagar’s serene environment, open spaces offer perfect setting for art’
Srinagar, Oct 20: Arpita Kothari, an accomplished architect and interior designer, has long held a deep connection with art.
In recent years, Arpita has taken her love for art beyond personal expression, organising workshops that bring the joy of creativity to others. Her first workshop for adults in Chennai laid the foundation, but she says that it was in Srinagar that she truly found her calling as a facilitator. Inspired by the Srinagar’s open spaces, rich nature, and serene environment, Arpita felt it was the perfect setting to help children explore their creativity and find their unique artistic voices.
Encouraged from childhood by her sister, Arpita explored various artistic avenues throughout her school years.
Professionally, she ran a successful design practice in Bangalore for over six years, delivering interior projects across India. Alongside this, she pursued her passion for art, creating commissioned works for other architects and designers and participating in multiple art shows in Chennai, including a group exhibition at the prestigious Lalit Kala Akademi. For Arpita, art has always been more than just a medium—it is a way to express thoughts, emotions, and ideas.
So far, she has conducted two workshops in Srinagar, each distinct in its approach. The first, held at a local Cafe , encouraged children of all ages to socialise and engage with art while learning about notable artists from across India.
One of the students who attended the workshop was particularly shy and struggled to express herself. But when she picked up a paintbrush, her creativity blossomed. Arpita noticed her talent and encouraged her to share her art with the class. With Arpita’s guidance, the student confidence grew, and she began to share her art with others.
The second took place at the picturesque Emporium Park in Srinagar, where participants observed and sketched trees, learning to appreciate nature while exploring history, heritage, and global flora. Arpita describes a particularly memorable moment when children hunched over trees, sat on the grass, or shared benches with new friends—all observing and creating in their own unique ways.
“The second workshop at Emporium Park had a whole different vibe, maybe more chill, outdoors, and nature-based peaceful vibes. The kids brought garden treasures from home and used them to make little vase artworks on cardboard. Then they went on a nature walk to sketch what they saw around them,” she said.
Elaborating, she said “we even had live music, a guitarist who kept the whole mood on and happy the entire time.” “The last activity was about the seasons of Kashmir, and it was super creative. Each group got a season and used coloured craft paper to build their own version of it. What stood out most to me was how every kid had their own way of seeing things. No one was told to copy anything, they were just encouraged to create however they wanted. Even the quieter ones slowly opened up, started chatting, laughing, and working with others” Arpita said.
The core intention behind Arpita’s workshops is to help children discover their individual expression, cultivate curiosity, understand the importance of observation and experimentation, and enjoy the creative process itself. Through her sessions, participants become more observant, curious about techniques, and open to exploring new ideas. The workshops also foster social connections and create a nurturing environment where creativity flourishes.
Challenges, such as being new to Srinagar and finding people interested in art workshops, have not deterred her. “Instead, these have fueled her determination to make each workshop meaningful and impactful,” she said. “My background in architecture helps me to understand how environments—nature, heritage, culture, and human interaction—affect creativity, and help to design experiences that resonate deeply with participants.
Jamiya, a participant said that she feels happy to be part of the Art workshop and expressed gratitude to Arpita for organising it and giving a platform to young kids to showcase their talent through art.
“I hope to offer regular classes for children who are eager to continue exploring art, providing them with a space to grow their skills, curiosity, and self-expression,” Arpita added.
