Painting expo backs handicapped children

Muscat, Oct 6 - An art exhibition was organised by a mother-daughter duo in support of the Association for the Welfare of Handicapped Children (AWHC). Komal Talati and her 13-year-old daughter Manya Talati organised the exhibition, called ‘Aspire’ with the theme, ‘The colours which silently speak for the need’, at City Seasons Hotel. Her Highness Sayyida Hujaija bint Jaifer al Said, patron of the Association for the Welfare of Handicapped Children, the chief guest at the exhibition, said: “I am proud that members of expatriate community have come forward to extend their support for the association. Each contribution goes a long way. Komal and Manya have decided to contribute a percentage of proceeds from the sale of exhibits to the AWHC.” A total of 30 paintings are on display, of which 18 are by Komal and the rest 12 by Manya. They reflect Oman’s landscape and the people. They narrate the tales of Oman through its traditions such as Omani kahwa, folk dances and camel races. Eighteen paintings are in oil and the remaining in acrylic. The floral and animal series by Manya are in soft and oil pastels. Komal, a civil engineer, gave up her job to fully focus on her passion — art. She is trained by accomplished artist Sheffy Tattarath. Manya is a student of Indian School Wadi Kabir. The Association for the Welfare of Handicapped Children, established in 1991, has been serving the children aged 6 to 14 years through a comprehensive programme of education, health, physical and academic services. Lakshmi Kothaneth