An homage to Mexican artist Frida Kahlo, depictions of happy memories and nature-inspired hand painted bags feature in a new exhibition, "Three NGOs: One Teacher", opening at Joe to Go café on May 13.

Curator and art teacher Oun Savann has been working with NGOs The Green Gecko Project, The Global Child and Anjali House for several years and aims to really “introduce them to the world of art.”

He says, “I want students to see that art has a valued place in the world, and is not just a course to be studied at school.”

For the new exhibition, each NGO followed a different concept. The Global Child students painted scenes on cotton bags, largely inspired by plants, birds and animals.

In keeping with the nature theme, the bags will be displayed hung from the branches of a wire tree.

Green Gecko student artists took part in an art exchange with an American high school where the theme was ‘My Happy Memory.’

“They painted happy memories, thinking about something that made them happy in their lives,” says Savann. “Then they sent the pictures to the students in the US and they guessed what it was, and the American students did the same thing and sent it back. So they made an exchange through art.”

The third group, Anjali House, participated in a workshop called ‘The Value of Art,’ where they were shown famous works of art and were asked to choose one that inspired them. Students then either copied the original images or created their own interpretations. Savann says Frida Kahlo was a popular choice, with one student producing her own portrayal of Kahlo’s Self-Portrait with Monkey.

At Tuesday’s opening there will be complimentary canapés, discounts on food and drink, plus entertainment.

“One student from Global Child will play two songs on the piano, and a student from Green Gecko is going to DJ,” says Savann.

The performances will be outside Joe to Go from 6-6.35pm, followed by the exhibition opening from 7-8.30pm. All funds raised will go towards future art projects.