PURSUING A POSTGRADUATE PROGRAMME IN FINE ARTS ABROAD DOES PROVIDE A DISTINCT EDGE.RUCHI GOYAL KAURA WHO PURSUED A MASTER’S IN TEXTILE DESIGN AND INNOVATION FROM NOTTINGHAM TRENT UNIVERSITY,UK,SPEAKS TO PROYASHI BARUA

   ART, at one level, is all about self-exploration and discovery and artists mirror their experiences and influences through their work. “This is where the importance of a vast and varied exposure lies,” says Ruchi Goyal Kaura. She goes on to state that pursuing a Master’s degree in art at a foreign university undeniably expands the spectrum of influences and augments one’s artistic sensibilities. Explaining further, she says, “Firstly, the interaction with students from various parts of the world facilitates an understanding of the fact that people are sometimes strikingly different in terms of their sensibilities. For instance, certain colours and symbols are equated with joy in certain cultures while these same colours and symbols connote grief in other cultures. This understanding eventually helps an artist to evolve and develop an individual style that transcends differences and is universally appreciated.” Kaura, however, adds that there are no straitjacketed formulas towards achieving universal acceptance. “It is important for artists to understand that interpretation of art is very personal and, hence, any given work of art is bound to court both appreciation and criticism. Therefore, my Master’s degree abroad, among other things, also taught me that art can go a long way in showing the world to respect and live with differences,” she reveals.
   Talking about the other specific benefits that her course abroad provided, Kaura says, “Nottingham Trent University, like most other universities abroad, employs a studentled methodology in terms of teaching art. Consequent to choosing our specialisations we (each student) had to propose a learning agreement to the concerned teachers. These learning agreements outlined the specific topics that we wanted to learn about. Thereby, each student got training in his/her specific interest areas. We also had to frame questionnaires on various subjects. This approach resulted in a more conscious involvement from students. In other words we knew exactly why we were learning a specific topic and how we want to leverage it in our work later.”
   Kaura adds that most foreign universities are relatively better equipped in terms of books and literature pertaining to art. “I do not undermine the literary reserves found in our Indian institutions of art. But it is a fact that most foreign universities have memberships of international libraries. This definitely translates to a clear benefit for students.” She further adds, “these universities also have a tradition of inviting guest speakers of international stature and they give lessons on the entrepreneurial aspects of art, a feature that is largely amiss in Indian institutions teaching art. Opportunities to visit international art fairs and galleries (aided through discounts) is yet another advantage.”
   Kaura sums up by saying that pursuing a Master’s degree in fine arts abroad also makes it easier for one to participate in international art competitions. “These competitions at one level help in gaining visibility for the artist. Simultaneously, the artists get exposure to various social causes. On my part, I had participated in a rug designing/making contest by RugMark — a not-forprofit organisation that is dedicated to providing a better life for thousands of children who are illegally employed in the rug industry of South Asia. I designed a rug (picture inset) that expounds the philosophy of providing a conducive environment for these children within mainstream society. The flowers symbolise the children and the patterns in the backdrop symbolise various avenues for growth and development.”