Brushstrokes of hope: Artists unite for flood relief

In a remarkable show of solidarity, artists from across Punjab and other parts of India joined hands for “United by Art: Exhibition for Flood Relief”, organised by the Punjab Lalit Kala Akademi at Punjab Kala Bhawan, Sector 16, Chandigarh. The special exhibition-cum-sale, held from September 19 to 30, aimed to extend support to flood-affected families in Punjab.

The initiative received an overwhelming response from the art community, with as many as 168 artists contributing their works — from Punjab and beyond — to help raise funds for relief efforts. A total of 471 artworks, including paintings, sculptures, photographs and mixed-media pieces, were displayed and offered at special prices to encourage contributions.

Five artists from Jalandhar — Harinder Singh Bhatti, Basu Dev Biswas, Sukhwinder Singh, Gagan Gambhir and Sonali — also sent their artworks for display at the exhibition.

During the 12-day event, the Akademi successfully raised Rs 12.66 lakh, which is now being utilised to provide aid to families affected by the floods. “Families of Rampur Gaura, Sultanpur Lodhi, who lost their homes in the floods, have received assistance from these funds,” said Harinder Singh Bhatti, Head of the Fine Arts Department, Army Public School, acknowledging the direct impact of the initiative.

“The event stood as an example of art serving humanity, transforming creativity into compassion. Through this collective effort, each artwork sold became not just a piece of art, but a gesture of hope, food and shelter for those in need,” he said, adding, “Art can indeed heal and rebuild lives.”

Over the years, Harinder Singh’s work has been showcased in numerous exhibitions at the national, state and district levels. His paintings have not only garnered attention but also earned him several prestigious awards. His artistic prowess extends beyond painting — he has twice received national awards in photography from the Indian Academy of Fine Arts (IAFA), Amritsar.