Children showcased apps, robots, and websites tackling real-world issues, blending art and innovation. The vibrant exhibition featured Odissi dance, judo, storytelling, and a community painting by over 300 visitors.
The Kalinga Art Gallery in Bhubaneswar burst into a vibrant celebration of colour, courage, and creativity as Unmukt Foundation hosted its annual Art Exhibition 2025, themed “Freedom – From the Lens of a Child.” The three-day event, held from October 10 to 12, showcased the artistic and imaginative expressions of over 350 children, each exploring their understanding of freedom through painting, storytelling, design, and technology.
Marking the start of the event, the youngest Unmukt student, Ananya, inaugurated the exhibition – a symbolic gesture of hope and new beginnings. Visitors were met not only with art but also with the young artists themselves, who proudly stood beside their creations, narrating the stories and emotions behind each brushstroke, recycled craft, or digital display.
In a first-of-its-kind initiative, children also presented their own apps, robots, and websites designed to address real-life issues, blending art with innovation. The exhibition became a dynamic space where creativity met compassion – featuring Odissi dance performances, judo demonstrations, storytelling sessions, and a massive community painting co-created by more than 300 visitors.
“When a child picks up a brush, it’s not just art, it’s courage,” said Shweta Agarwal, Founder of Unmukt Foundation. “Many of these children are the first in their families to dream beyond limits. This exhibition celebrates the joy of learning, the courage to express, and the freedom to imagine.”
Over 500 visitors, including artists, educators, and citizens, attended the exhibition, many leaving heartfelt notes on the “Leave a Little Note” wall filled with words like inspiring, transformative, and hopeful. Eminent artist Tarakant Parida lauded the foundation’s journey, saying, “True to its name, Unmukt means freedom, and you can feel that in every child here – free, confident, and expressive.” Actor and producer Swastik Choudhury called the initiative “a movement toward self-reliance and expression.”
The event also carried a green message, promoting an eco-friendly Diwali. Every child received a sustainable diya and bookmark encouraging reading and environmental care. For many parents, especially mothers, it was a deeply emotional moment – seeing their children’s creations displayed in a professional art space for the first time.
Founded in 2017, Unmukt Foundation works with children from vulnerable communities using its holistic PEACE model – Physical, Emotional, Academic, Creative, and Environmental development. The organization has so far reached over 3,800 children through 5,400 hours of joyful learning, guided by its vision: Every child is seen, safe, and served with quality education.
