The exhibition, organised by Maneka Gandhi to garner funds for the People for Animals, has given a new lease of life to the dying art form as well. Says Gandhi: “We hope to do our bit for the revival of the art form through the exhibition.”

The Kanhai art is time-consuming. Says Kilachand, 57: “Painting the image is just the beginning. Pasting the gems is what actually requires a lot of patience. It could take months to make one canvas. Hopefully, the beauty of the paintings will inspire some to learn it.” For the Gurgaon-based, self-taught artist, the romance with the technique began at the age of 16 when she started adorning her paintings with gems. Gradually the canvas became bigger, orders started pouring in and Krishna met Swarovski.

The three-day exhibition at