June 1: Rural scenes, portraits, mythological characters and favourite moments - the Bengal gallery of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) burst into life with the works of young artists in different hues and moods.

Students of classes I to XII with a flair for art took part in an inclusive exhibition titled Life as you see it hosted by Concern India Foundation. A segment was also dedicated to budding photographers who managed to capture slices of life through their lens.

A signature event of Concern India, the exhibition saw students from 10 schools contributing paintings and photographs to the cause of education for the underprivileged. Many of the artworks were by underprivileged kids as well.

For Class V student Vinisha Mohindar, the entire experience was a dream come true. Three of her paintings, part of the Blissful Life series, had been selected for the exhibition. "This is my first exposure in a gallery. I love to paint and dedicate at least one day of the week to my passion," said the shy student pointing to her favourite frame - three ballet dancers painted in acrylic.

Around 124 paintings and photographs had been selected for the daylong event. The young artists came with their parents, proudly taking them on a tour around and showing off their creativity.

"I had art as my sixth subject in school. That encouraged me to paint a lot. My two paintings here were done two years ago. But now I have many more to showcase," gushed Esha Malhotra, a Class XII student of La Martiniere, as she took her parents around the gallery. "Art is what I turn to when I need to relax," she added.

For many participants, their artworks were a reflection of a personal moment or possession at home. A grandfather clock by Anushka Niara Mitter, a Class VI student of The Akshar School, stood out among them. Some sketched their favourite people or characters from history or mythology. A few others tried to highlight a social message through their work.

"It is very difficult to select a favourite from this exhibition. Every frame is bursting with talent and creativity," said Henrietta Dorrington-Ward, wife of Bruce Bucknell, the British deputy high commissioner in Calcutta.