A series of black and white illustrations of a crow savouring a slice of watermelon peek at you from the invite for Sir JJ Institute of Applied Art’s annual exhibition. But trust an institute at the service of art since 1935 to infuse it in everything it does. So, when we pull out the card, colours start appearing in the artwork, almost magically. This element of surprise continues in the exhibition. Showcasing select projects from a multitude that students work on through the year, the event is also a trajectory of how their approach to art and its application evolves in four years.

“Given the practical nature of the course, this exhibition is considered more important than the written exam,” says Dr Santosh Kshirsagar, dean (in-charge) of the institute. He adds that it is also what industry professionals keep an eye out for. Lecturer Gajanan Sitaram Shepal explains that while the first year is about familiarising students with different facets of applied art, the projects become fewer in number but more thematic with time.
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