On 19 May 2024 at Nine Fish Gallery, Mumbai, Dot Line Space Art Foundation, Art1st and Cheenti (an imprint of Ektara) released their latest title, Art is a Voice, written and illustrated by Kripa, centred around  art and activism. This book is published with Akar Prakar as a research partner.

Art is a Voice, the second book in Art1st’s Arts Integrated series, is recommended for young readers aged 10 years and above. In this book, artist and illustrator, Kripa, couples eleven verses with vivid illustrations, interspersed with the works of eleven contemporary Indian artists. The Arts Integrated series serves as a sandbox for young learners to look at a variety of subjects like History, Mathematics, Language, Geography and Activism through works of Indian Art. Art is a Voice introduces readers to activism through art, and urges us all to care, connect and contribute

The launch began with a workshop for the children from the Red Boys Foundation, an NGO based in Bandra, Mumbai. The children were introduced to the book and were encouraged to observe Kripa’s original illustrations displayed in the gallery.  Kripa, a children’s book illustrator, is also a facilitator of art and design. In most of her books, city and art are recurring themes enabling children to view their cities with new perspectives. Her art is rooted in her engagement with her city Mumbai, its inhabitants, environment and culture.

Kripa led an interactive discussion with the children, around the themes of the book and the artworks. The children then filled in ‘I Pledge’ stickers, a recurring part of the book where readers are encouraged to pledge their work and support towards a cause.

At around 5:40 pm, guests began to settle into the gallery, eagerly awaiting the launch event to begin. With a letter to children, establishing the context for the book and encouraging them to create their own art, Art is a Voice was officially released with Kripa, Deepa Balsavar, Sudharak Olwe and Vikrant Bhise, along with the children from the Red Boys Foundation.

Deepa Balsavar, an artist and storyteller, moderated the panel discussion with Kripa, and artists Sudharak Olwe, Orijit Sen and Vikrant Bhise, whose works were featured in Art is a Voice. Other artists featured in the book include The Fearless Collective, Sudipta Das, Prabhakar Pachpute, Sudhir Patwardhan, Mayur and Tushar Vayeda, Ravi Agarwal, Shabnam Virmani and Gurujeet Singh. The discussion revolved around the importance of art in the space of activism, and introducing these concepts to young children.

After a round of audience questions, the event ended with tea and snacks, and the opportunity for guests to explore the exhibition of the original illustrations from the book at Nine Fish Gallery. The exhibition continued till 4 June 2024.