Manjulika Pramod’s guide Kaleidoscope of Cheer and Hope paperwork the lockdown in 50 illustrations
A set of multi-coloured birds sit amongst fig formed leaves on the branches of a inexperienced tree. However the birds are holding on to masks that learn ‘social distancing’. This Gond artwork illustration by Manjulika Pramod options in chapter considered one of her new guide Kaleidoscope of Cheer and Hope (Srijan Digital Collections), a bit of non-fiction that revolves across the pandemic. “I made this on March 16, day considered one of lock down,” says Manjulika, a telecom engineer-turned journey blogger. “I picked up my artwork guide to distract myself. I selected the indigenous Gond artwork of Madhya Pradesh to showcase my emotion across the new phrase ‘social distancing’ that has entered our lives.”
The 96-page guide launched on Kindle presents 50 illustrations; a brief notice or a diary entry accompanies every. One in every of her drawings is impressed by Banksy’s work ‘Lady with Balloon’, the place she introduces a globe contained in the purple balloon to point out the curtail on journey.
“Final yr alone, I had travelled to 16 nations. Then, rapidly, I used to be cooped up in a work-related non permanent abode in Vijayawada together with my husband. I turned to artwork as a coping mechanism.As I had simply color pencils and pens with me, I made all my illustrations utilizing these.”
Since March, she has made greater than 100 drawings to maintain a document of life throughout the unprecedented instances. “I picked the perfect 50 for the guide. After I posted on social media, it resonated with everybody, my household and mates, and it helped us keep constructive.”
A few of her illustrations additionally trended on Twitter, just like the one which exhibits a health care provider sipping his espresso as his household watches him from a distance. Her pandemic curler coaster drawing that alerts individuals to ‘don’t let your guard off’ throughout unlock was picked up by UNICEF, and has been featured on its youth web page.
She provides, “I needed to cheer up individuals and that’s the reason I selected yellows, greens, reds, and oranges to make vibrant and vibrant illustrations. Everybody who has lived by the final six months will relate to the guide.”
In one of many illustrations, Manjulika makes use of warli artwork to specific ‘janata curfew’. She creates a vibrant tribal village with warli collectible figurines singing, doing chores and dancing merrily outdoor on a traditional day, and selecting to remain indoors throughout the curfew. A free model illustration of wholesome thaali has a platter of sanitisers and masks however there may be an empty spot that awaits the vaccine. A few of the drawings recognize private banter, like a dialog along with her husband about Dalgona espresso. “The purpose is to take advantage of the second and luxuriate in it.”
There are additionally drawings on the rice ATMs of Vietnam, jews praying with social distancing norms, and the Bhurj Khalifa of Dubai that lit up throughout the pandemic with the phrases ‘keep house’ in 11 languages. Says Manjulika,“Artwork helped me give a distinct perspective to the pandemic. It gave me a ray of hope.”
The guide is obtainable on Kindle and Google Playstore.