Welcome to Shilpataru
At Shilpataru, we celebrate the vibrant world of art and culture by creating a dynamic space for creativity and connection. Our mission is to promote artistic expression through curated exhibitions, workshops, and community events, providing a platform for both emerging and established artists. We believe in the transformative power of art to inspire dialogue, foster collaboration, and enrich lives. Join us in our journey to cultivate a thriving community where creativity flourishes and everyone is invited to explore and appreciate the arts!
Manifesto
Shilpataru was founded on 13th October 2006 in Pondicherry.
Shilpataru is a group of artists from Pondicherry seeking to bring art and beauty into daily life, increasing awareness of the arts – ancient, modern and contemporary – through diverse activities.
Ancient Indian Art has always been grounded on deeper spiritual truths and values of life. Shilpataru seeks to re-invoke and re-interpret these ancient soul-values, understand and express them in the context of art and life today, carrying the seed for the future.
India today is searching for its cultural identity, Shilpataru would like, through different creative activities, to contribute to the process of reshaping the richness of this cultural identity.
Shilpataru would like to create a platform to support, encourage and inspire art activities focussing on art as a way of life.
In order to grow into a cultured society it is essential that the aesthetic sense of every individual be cultivated. Shilpataru hopes to develop the aesthetic consciousness of the public through different events, engendering activities to make art an integral part of life.
Shilpataru is actively engaged in making cultural education the basis of learning, inspiring environmental awareness, consciousness change, and self-transformation as the seminal raison d’etre of the being.
Beauty and art are important to the happiness of the human being: aesthetic development is not an extravagant fancy but a basic necessity which can lead to prosperity and unconditional bliss.
At Shilpataru, we celebrate the vibrant world of art and culture by creating a dynamic space for creativity and connection. Our mission is to promote artistic expression through curated exhibitions, workshops, and community events, providing a platform for both emerging and established artists. We believe in the transformative power of art to inspire dialogue, foster collaboration, and enrich lives.
Join us in our journey to cultivate a thriving community where creativity flourishes and everyone is invited to explore, appreciate the arts and where you grow by sharing whatever knowledge you have to offer!
Our Team
Artivist working towards eco cultural, conscious, sustainable, community building.
Kirti Chandak
MANAGING TRUSTEE
Kirti Chandak is an accomplished artist, curator, and art teacher based in Pondicherry, India. With a diverse linguistic background, Kirti is fluent in English, French, Hindi, Marathi, Bengali, Rajasthani, Tamil, and Sanskrit. Kirti has received numerous awards and scholarships throughout their career, including the National Scholarship from 1997 to 1999 and a prestigious scholarship from the French government for a cultural exchange program with École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts (ENSB-A) in Paris in 1999.
They were honored with the Late Milinde Kumar Bhade Gold Medal from the M.S. University Faculty of Fine Arts in Baroda for outstanding painting in 1999, followed by a Junior Fellowship from 2000 to 2002. In 2001, Kirti received the Vishwa Animation Pvt. Ltd. Award from the Bombay Art Society and the Pollock-Krasner Foundation Grant for the year 2002-2003. Currently, Kirti serves as the Managing Trustee for Shilpataru and is the Director of Tasmai, a Centre for Art & Culture in Pondicherry. For more information, visit their website at www.tasmaipondy.com, or check out their YouTube channel ( click here ) and their Facebook page, TASMAI PONDY.
1991
GRADUATION FROM ‘SRI AUROBINDO INTERNATIONAL CENTER OF EDUCATION’ (S.A.I.C.E.), PONDICHERRY
1992-97
BACHELOR OF FINE ARTS FROM KALA BHAVANA, VISVA BHARATI, SANTINIKETAN, WEST BENGAL
1997-99
MASTER OF FINE ARTS FROM FACULTY OF FINE ARTS, M.S. UNIVERSITY, BARODA, GUJARAT
1999
U.G.C. CERTIFICATE FOR LECTURESHIP
Giribala Tripathy ( Trustee )
M.A in Education, Utkal University. Working in the art department of SAA. Pondicherry
Sri Aurobindo Ashram inmate, joined 2007 as a student of Artist Kirti chandak.
I love to paint watercolor from nature. Aspiring a single-use plastic free world.
Educational Journey
2007
Joined Sri Aurobindo Ashram as a student of Artist Kirti Chandak, beginning my formal art education.
Education
Earned an M.A. in Education from Utkal University, enhancing my understanding of art and pedagogy.
Experience
Accumulated 17 years of artistic exploration, including 12 years specializing in marbling design and holding 2 solo exhibitions at Sri Aurobindo Ashram.
Passion & Advocacy
Developed a love for watercolor painting inspired by nature, while aspiring to promote a single-use plastic-free world through my art.