Decoding a marvel called Mona Lisa

Her smile is world-famous. The painting of Mona Lisa that hangs in the Musee du Louvre, France, has captured the minds of people through centuries. But, if you are one of those who find themselves at a loss figuring out the importance of the work by Italian Renaissance artist Leonardo da Vinci, do not fret.

An upcoming workshop, titled Demystifying Mona Lisa, will help you understand what makes the Mona Lisa an iconic piece of art. "The painting generates curiosity.

Everyone is familiar with it, even if they don't know much about it. We will talk about its importance, how it reached the common man and what makes it popular to date," says artist Ruve Narang, who will be conducting the workshop. In addition, she will touch upon the Renaissance era and da Vinci. At the end, participants will be guided on how to create a doodle version of Mona Lisa.

Ruve Narang discusses the iconic painting at an art appreciation workshop in Pune

The art appreciation meet-up cum workshop is being organised by WAS Studio, a one-year-old organisation and collaborative dedicated to the fine arts. "Our aim is to explore and expand the creativity and artistic talent of every art form - fine art, drama, music, theatre - through workshops, meet-ups, and courses," says Narang.

Previous art appreciation workshops have focussed on specific eras, artists like Amrita Shergill, and specific paintings. "We want to bridge the gap between art exhibitions and the common man by talking about how to appreciate and understand art. Participants can question us on anything related to the subject, from myths to aesthetics," adds Narang. Upcoming events will focus on the aesthetics of art, and demystifying abstract art.