Beyond Limits 2019 Celebrating Abilities This World Disability Day

by Suman Gupta

New Delhi, December 6, 2019: Beyond Limits-2019, the most exclusive art exhibition showcasing artworks made by 40 artists with different disabilities from across India has been organised by Family Of Disabled (FOD) at Arpana Art Gallery, Academy of Fine Arts and Literature, Siri Fort Institutional Area, Khel Gaon Marg. The week long exhibition is showcasing over 75 original artworks by 40 artists from all across India- Delhi, Jammu, Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, Haryana, Punjab, Maharashtra, etc. The purpose is to celebrate the abilities and abundant talent among the people with disabilities and present it to the art lovers and aficionados but also to the public at large.

The exhibition offering humongous variety of art under one roof is a visual treat for art connoisseurs. It will remain open till December 10 from 11:00 am to 7:00 pm. Beyond Limits is the only platform available to these professionally qualified artists who because of their disabilities face the attitudinal barriers and are unable to showcase their art along with their non-disabled counterparts. It is a must visit to witness exquisite artworks- sculptures in bronze & fiber, assemblage, canvas & paper coming to life with water, oil & acrylic colours, mixed media, collage work, etc.

Tara Gandhi Bhattacharjee, granddaughter of Mahatma Gandhi, was present at the inauguration.  On being questioned if “Gandhi” is being exploited and used to meet personal goals, she said, “Each artist, while painting or giving shape to his thoughts through medium of art experienced Gandhi in him. For Gandhi is not a mere name, it is a belief – an inspiration, an ideology… All of us have him in us but rarely experience him.”

This platform is intended to help the disabled artists in reaching out to people with their imagination and creativity and also provide financial support, public recognition and appreciation to the participating artists.

Ambassador Navdeep Singh Suri was elated to be part of the inauguration and see the artworks by a foot artist. He expressed affinity for another artwork by a self-taught brilliant artist from Punjab. He related this work to ‘Khooni Vaisakhi’ which his grandfather had written after he survived the Jalianwala Bagh Massacre. 2019 being the centenary year, he was extremely moved by the painting and ended up buying it.

About Family of Disabled (FOD): FOD was founded in 1992 by Rajinder Johar, after he became quadriplegic (paralysis of all the four limbs) sustaining an injury to his spinal cord. It caters to the pressing needs of people with disabilities by offering them those facilities which hitherto have been non-existent. Majority of the programmes are targeted at those people who cannot afford to sustain themselves on their own- Providing self-employment, sponsoring education, providing assistive devices to aid their daily living, etc. FOD was also featured in Satyamev Jayate in their programme highlighting disability issues.  For further information on FOD, please visit <http://www.familyofdisabled.org/> www.familyofdisabled.org