WHEN ART BECAME A LANGUAGE
- Tanya Chakraborty
- Jul 24
- 3 min read
Five minutes after I introduced myself, she asked me who I was again. Yet when it was time for us to leave, she held my hand tightly and said, “Come back soon.” In that moment, I realised that memory isn’t the only thing that creates connection. It’s how we make people feel seen.
It is these moments that remind me why I started something of my own. Something small, but deeply personal. That is how Big At Art began.
I organised sessions at SASCO@TelokBlangah every alternate Wednesday, where elderly residents come together with volunteers for simple art and craft activities.
Our first session on 1st April 2026, ever since which we have done bracelet making, coaster designing, wall hangings, keychain making and more, each activity simple in structure, but meaningful in experience. To residents, especially those with dementia or mobility challenges, these artsy sessions helped in cognitive stimulation, muscle movement and above all, happiness.
One of the most beautiful parts of every session was what happened at the end. They didn’t just create something, they treasured it. Everything they made, they proudly took home for their families. Some even made two: one for themselves and one as a gift. It always reminded me that, even after all these years, their thoughts still returned to the people they loved most. Even those with dementia often spoke about their children, as if those bonds were something time itself could not erase.
The time spent with the elderlies along the way made my hard work feel worth it. Although curating activities, coordinating materials, guiding volunteers, and devoting time to the elderlies seems perplexing, Nalini, the co-founder of Big At Heart, supported me every step of this journey. She helped me shape my initiative ‘Big At Art’. More than anything, she gave me the confidence to believe that even at my age, I could create something meaningful.
This experience has changed how I see life itself. If life is an inverted curve, then perhaps we begin small, grow into our peak, and slowly return to a simpler, more childlike version of ourselves again
Big At Art was never just something I ran. It became something that shaped me in ways I did not fully realisein the moment, but only understood in reflection.
The volunteers who joined often left changed. Some returned every session because they found something meaningful in it. Others left with something quieter but lasting: a new skill, a new perspective, a memory they did not expect to carry.
And for me, it became something far more significant than I had imagined when I first began. It gave structure to my thoughts, direction to my ideas, and purpose to something I once thought was too small to matter.
At just 18, I realized I am only at the beginning of learning what it means to create impact. Big At Art, gave me clarity through this experience. With the constant guidance of Miss Nalini and the support of the Big At Heart community, I was given the space to try, to lead, and to grow in ways I had not thought possible at this age.
Because in the end, it was never just about art. It was about people. And the quiet, powerful ways we learnt to understand each other, without the need for words at all.
Tanya Chakraborty
Founder, Big At Art Initiative
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