Saving tigers with paint and brush……Vijay Pinjarkar
NAGPUR: You would be a little bit fuzzy about how paintings can help save tigers? But Lili Menon, an artist from Mumbai, has shown where there is a will, there is a way. “I’m passionate about forests and wildlife. The act was spontaneous and came from my heart. As I’m unable to go in the field and do something for the tigers, I thought why not make a small effort by using my brush to help the wild cats that are passing through worst-ever crisis, by selling my paintings,” Lili told TOI.
Lili’s exhibition ‘Rewind’ at the Artists Centre, Kalaghoda, Mumbai, concluded on November 28. Entire proceeds of Rs5 lakh would go to Amravati-based Satpuda Foundation, a leading NGO working for tiger conservation in Central India. Lili said Satpuda Foundation was recommended to her by a friend Meenakshi Madhvani, who was aware of the NGO’s work.
This was Lili’s maiden project to save tigers. Of the 18 paintings she exhibited, 15 were sold instantly. Those buying her paintings are proud today that their money went for a cause. The paintings, mainly on different moods in nature, were acrylics on canvas and priced between.Rs49,000 and Rs22,500.
The paintings attracted attention of Mumbaikars on day one itself. Brotherhood, Oneness, Faith, Happiness, Wonder, Fate, Childhood, Camaradie, Freedom, Fearless, Nostalgia, Belief, Time, The Good Times, Connections, Souls, Innocence and Beauty were some of the paintings put out for sale. This was third solo painting exhibition of Lili, an expert in graphic design. Her first was organised in 2007 and then in 2009.