She drew wings, depicting her desire to fly. Sarbani Chandra, 46, has found her freedom in art after spending two years at a mental health facility.

Six patients of Calcutta Pavlov Hospital were at Goethe Institut, where their artworks along with that of fellow inmates are being showcased, on Thursday.

“I have drawn my desire to fly abroad to study. I also painted my dream of leaving Pavlov,” said Sarbani, pointing to a large canvas.

Noni Gopal Rajbanshi, 62, drew scenes from family life for the exhibition.

“Art makes me happy. I want to continue it. I never thought I will get to mingle with so many people in a place like this,” said Noni, who has been at Pavlov for 27 years.

Mental health activist Ratnaboli Ray of Anjali, an NGO associated with the initiative, said democratising art was a big step towards establishing mental health patients as citizens with equal rights. “Most of them don’t get to participate beyond hospital events. Events such as this open up the world for them. Seeing residents of Pavlov enjoying tidbits at the Max Mueller café in between work is a big dream-come-true for all of us,” she said.

(From left) Noni Gopal Rajbanshi discusses an exhibit with friends Ratan Roy Nandi and Siddhartha Shankar Ghosh. Pictures by B. Halder

Joining the Pavlov patients were 28 children from the Old Port Trust Colony in Taratala.

The children of Jungle Crow Foundation, along with artists’ collective Sunny De Wall, had earlier turned their neighbourhood into an art mela through the initiative Chalo Painting Tangai.

After nearly six months, both the groups are back in a new space exploring, bonding and speaking of their experiences through art.

“We have been learning to express through art. I was not interested in drawing before, but now I paint my dreams, emotions and also sights from my locality,” said Monu Kumar, a Class XI student from Taratala.

Many underprivileged children of the area have found a new life through art since the first phase of the project. They are also trying to change their home turf. “We have jazzed up our area with wall art and are trying to change mindsets. Many children in our locality are wasting their lives because of addiction. We are using art to drive sense into their heads,” said Sunita Yadav, 14.

Children of Taratala take visitors on a tour of their works that tell stories of their locality Pictures by B. Halder

Art has brought the children and the Pavlov residents together. They drew live for visitors as well and got tips from artists who drew for them in return. In between art, there was a lot of bonding and sharing of new experiences.

Sarbani loved interacting with the children. “The kids are too disciplined. But we made friends very easily,” she said.

A day in a gallery seemed like yet another wish-fulfilment for the kids. “We come to play rugby near Park Street. But meeting people here and getting tips from other artists was beyond our imagination. We are having so much fun,” said Karan Mahato of Class XI, as he and his friends took guests on a tour of the gallery and shared the stories behind the artworks.

The second phase of the project was meant to open up art and bind communities further, said Sumona Chakravarty, the director of Hamdasti, the organiser of the event.

The exhibition is on till July 31.