Airbrushed existence

The compulsory art class back in school had a certain consistency about it.

- VEENU SANDHU

The art teacher's "paint a landscape" instruction would trigger what could be called photocopied creativity: Brown peaks, sometimes sharp, sometimes mound-like, with a dash of white atop for snow; an undulating green terrain; a little cottage with a door in the middle, windows by the side and a tree nearby; a duck pond in front of the cottage or else a stream running from the mountains; a couple of birds; a cheerful sun; and blue skies pinned with white, cotton-like clouds the fair-weather cumulus.

The lack of imagination this idyllic scene reflected would later start to worry art teachers in new-age schools that pride themselves on encouraging children to forge their individual identities and find their own expression.

Cloned creativity aside, you could tell that if you stepped into one of those paintings and took a deep breath, the air that would fill your lungs would be cool and sweet - not the kind we breathe in cities like Delhi.