Young Artists Reimagine Van Gogh’s Starry Night Through the Bombay Skyline

A new exhibition titled “How the Akanksha Children Found Their Colours” will open on May 29 at 47-A in Khotachi Wadi, Girgaum, Mumbai. Running until June 7 and closed on Mondays, the exhibition brings together artworks created by children from underserved communities who have explored artistic expression through interpretations of renowned artists and art traditions. The show presents a visual journey of creativity, imagination and self-discovery through painting and mixed-media works.

Young Artists Reimagine Art History

The exhibition centres on children who have been introduced to art as a means of understanding and expressing their experiences. Drawing inspiration from artists including Vincent van Gogh, M. F. Husain, Jamini Roy, Georgia O’Keeffeand Banksy, the children have created works that connect iconic artistic languages with their own observations, relationships and aspirations.

According to the organisers, the exhibition reflects how creative engagement can provide young people with a new lens through which to view themselves and the world around them.

From The Starry Night to the Bombay Skyline

Among the featured works is a reinterpretation of Van Gogh’s celebrated painting The Starry Night, transformed into a vision of Mumbai’s skyline. Other artworks revisit traditional Indian visual forms such as Tanjore painting while connecting them to contemporary personal narratives.

Highlights of the exhibition include:

• A Mumbai-inspired reimagining of The Starry Night
• Works influenced by the artistic approaches of M.F. Husain
• Personal interpretations of Tanjore painting traditions
• Art inspired by Georgia O’Keeffe’s exploration of form and nature
• Stencil-based works drawing from the visual language of Banksy

Art as a Space for Self-Expression

The exhibition emphasises the role of art education in encouraging confidence, observation and storytelling. Through exposure to diverse artistic traditions, participants were encouraged to explore themes of identity, family, community and hope.

Several works focus on the importance of mothers, family bonds and everyday experiences, demonstrating how classical and contemporary artistic references can become vehicles for personal expression.

About 47-A and Khotachi Wadi

The exhibition will be hosted at 47-A Gallery, a venue dedicated to art, craft and design located in the historic neighbourhood of Khotachi Wadi, Girgaum. The gallery occupies the ground floor of a restored 19th-century Portuguese-style bungalow and regularly presents exhibitions exploring the intersections of craft, design and contemporary artistic practice.

Founded through a collaboration involving Chatterjee & Lal and Baro Market, 47-A has established itself as a cultural venue that combines exhibitions with community engagement and heritage-focused programming.

A Heritage Setting in the Heart of Mumbai

Khotachi Wadi is one of Mumbai’s best-known heritage precincts, recognised for its Portuguese-influenced architecture and long cultural history. The neighbourhood remains an important reminder of the city’s layered urban heritage and has become a destination for art, architecture and cultural events.

Visitors attending the exhibition will have the opportunity to experience both the artworks and the distinctive atmosphere of this historic enclave.

Visitor Information

Takeaway

“How the Akanksha Children Found Their Colours” presents art not only as a creative activity but also as a means of reflection and empowerment. By reinterpreting the works of influential artists through their own experiences, the participating children offer new perspectives on familiar visual traditions. Set within the heritage surroundings of Khotachi Wadi, the exhibition highlights the potential of arts education to foster imagination, confidence and cultural engagement while inviting visitors to encounter stories of hope expressed through colour and creativity.