Visitors at Café Turtle are in for a surprise these days. When they enter the cafe, the first thing that catches their eye are some interesting sketches and doodles by artist Sumedha Sah, 26. And she is often there to explain her work — a sketch of an unforgettable man, her fond memories of a holiday in Goa, a white desert and an impression of recurring dreams.
“These are records of my memories of over two years. I have 20 diaries which are full of my work,” says the artist. An architect in the making, Sumedha carries a small notebook with her everyday and sketches as and when she notices something she wants to remember always.
“It is fun to draw and paint. It is much more personal than clicking pictures because when you are taking photographs, you miss the moment you should enjoy. When I sketch, I enjoy the moment and spend more time connecting with the subject. And later when I look at them, I vividly remember the place, time and date when I made that sketch. It’s like making a record of your own life,” explains Sumedha.
With no formal training, Sumedha took up sketching when she realised doodling too is an art. “My sister, a graphic designer, inspired me to an extent, and then I always had it in me. We all paint and sketch in childhood but it stays with many. It stayed with me too. Much later I realised that doodling and sketching is not child’s play. Even an artist like Picasso used to sketch. Since then this hobby became a part of my life,” says the artist from Nainital, who wishes to donate 10 per cent of sale proceeds from this exhibition to the Uttarakhand flash floods relief fund.
“For now, I am just recording my memories and they are going to stay with me always,” ends Sumedha.
The Umbrella Bar exhibition is on till July 14 at Café Turtle