Stella Maris Fine Arts graduates of 1987 come together for reunion art show in Chennai

In a quiet corner of VA Gallery on Chamiers Road, a group of women lean over a desk, admiring paintings. The artist, Kannur-based Vidhya Chandran, appears a little overwhelmed by the attention. “My main medium is fabric… these are just practice sketches,” she says, signing her name with her brush. At once, her batchmates erupt in encouragement, insisting the works deserve to be framed and treasured.

It is this spirit of camaraderie and creative persistence that defines An Artful Reunion, a group show by the Fine Arts batch of 1987 from Stella Maris College. Nearly four decades after graduation, 18 of them have returned to the gallery space, not just with paintings, but with crochet, origami, photography, ceramics, and fabric art, showcasing how their practice has evolved with time. 

Curators Mala Chinnappa, Varuna Arvind, and Rangashree Srinivas
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Special Arrangement

“We have always kept in touch, thanks to WhatsApp. This show came together very organically. All of us are still doing some form of art even after all these years, and bringing it all together for a show was an obvious choice,” says Rangashree Srinivas, who curated the show with her two friends Mala Chinnappa, director of an advertising agency, and Varuna Arvind, founder of VA Gallery. 

The result is a showcase that feels less like a formal exhibition and more like a reunion in paint, fabric, and form. “There is no overarching theme to the exhibition, because each of us have different strengths, and we wanted everyone to showcase what they do best,” adds Rangashree. 

On display are delicate origami sculptures, textured crochet pieces, collages, watercolours, ceramics, photographs, and paintings in a variety of styles. Some artists have stayed true to their chosen medium for decades, like award-winning origamist Kalyani Voleti and Philadelphia-based watercolourist Radhika Srinivas, while others continue to experiment across forms. 

Paintings on display at An Artful Reunion
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Special Arrangement

The mix makes for a viewing experience that is eclectic yet deeply personal, with each work carrying the stamp of a life lived outside and alongside art. Margaret Thomas, the current Vice Principal of Stella Maris College, who works with pen on canvas, says, “when we joined the course, it was because we were all interested in the arts. This has kept us together over the years.” Mala mirrors the sentiment, adding, “we were all in this because we appreciated the arts. This wasn’t just a degree we picked to keep us busy until something better came along.” 

Over the years, the group has not only kept in touch and encouraged each other, but also travelled together for art — visiting the Kochi-Muziris Biennale, holding retreats in Kodai and Coonoor, and showing up unfailingly for each other’s showcases.

Artist Thota Tharani at the showcase
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Special Arrangement

When their former professor, art historian and curator Ashrafi Bhagat, dropped by the gallery, she was quick to encourage the initiative. For the Batch of ’87, her presence was a reminder of where it all began, making this return to the gallery not just a reunion of friends, but a reaffirmation of the role art has continued to play in their lives.

An Artful Reunion will be on view at VA Gallery, Chamiers Road, from August 16 to 23, 11am to 7pm.

Published – August 18, 2025 04:53 pm IST