Dhoomimal Art Gallery and AuTypical to promote autism awareness and inclusion through art initiatives presented, part of the 31st Ravi Jain Memorial Foundation Awards for Upcoming Artists, autistic art for the first time at a professional level.
The exhibition was opened on September 29, 2022, by Union Minister of State for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Rajeev Chandrasekhar, and Padma Shri awardee Anjolie Ela Menon presented the awards. The event concluded with a live charity art auction called "Colours of Joy" on Sunday, February 12, 2023, conducted by Artrise Auctions.
Sunaina Jain, Director of Artrise Auctions, noted that "it was an encouraging response from people who placed advance online bids and most of them were present in the hall to raise paddles and contribute towards this noble initiative."
The auction was a moving experience for everyone, particularly the AuTypical artists, who saw their works being auctioned and were applauded by the audience.
The auctioneer, Angira Arya, introduced each of the artists when their works came up for auction.
The auction proceeds from the works of the AuTypical artists will go directly to the artists, while 20% of the proceeds from Dhoomimal Gallery's collection will go towards creating awareness and opportunities for autism. The charity art auction was a great success, with all 11 AuTypical artworks selling for a total of over 6 Lacs, with proceeds going directly to the artists. The gallery intends to include these artists more and more in future exhibitions.
Uday Jain, Director of Dhoomimal Gallery, stated that the aim is to take the art of the autistic community to the Outside Art Fair in Paris and New York, with the belief that such showcasing of abilities will change the conversation around autism and mainstream members of the community to a life of dignity and social well-being.
Dr Rashmi Das, Chairperson of AuTypical.in, said: "An ambitious milestone has been achieved for autistic artists. We thank Dhoomimal Gallery for showcasing autistic art alongside the works of iconic masters for sales in a charity auction. It was a great success as all lots of autistic art got sold, averaging about Rs 55,000 per artwork. Sale proceeds will go to the artists in full. AuTypical will continue to champion the inclusion of autistic artists in professional-grade fine arts, helping them find buyers and shaping their vocational identities. We are highly encouraged by the response and look forward to a deepening engagement with Dhoomimal Gallery."