This series of five works is narrative in nature. It is an inner dialogue in silent observance. In the landscape of life, I often go inwards to find my resources, to allow myself to introspect and understand what nourishes my soul. It is when I have most to say that I go silent.
Most of our existential patterns are born out of our childhood experiences, which have a ripple effect in our life, often developing the way in which we perceive and handle life. Born in introspective silence, my artistic records are about finding links between my emotional, personal and social history. In order to find any genuine connection, we must embrace our own essence fully as it is often an understanding of oneself that sparks the understanding of the other. The visuals and the words are to prod us and bring this awareness in our society. It stems out of my need to responsibly bring forth issues of mental and emotional well-being, and to ignite personal transformations.
Narrative Strips I to II
Born into an Indian officer’s family, uprooting and replanting my life every few years meant adapting to new circumstances and exposure to different cultures, thought processes and life experiences. For a long time, the idea of a bed was three storage trunks [wooden or steel] put together or an army camp cot. The constant movement brought exciting newness along with harsh adjustments for all of us, with continuous drama unfolding. I have used Acrylic paint over wooden boards in this series to highlight my experience of frequent dislocation and relocation. Often old wood boards carrying their own histories become a part of my work.
Narrative Strips III to IV
The word ‘strip’ carries many connotations. To strip away the old, inside or outside of oneself. It could mean striping off a piece of clothing, or it could be a format of narrative storytelling. To strip, is also to lay bare. It is challenging for me to express myself through spoken words and so the interplay of the text (paper torn from old books) and the visuals comes to my rescue. A word or a moment at times might trigger a response born out of childhood wounds. We create a bubble of our own to protect ourselves from getting hurt. Often refuge comes in the form of silent observance of oneself.
Narrative strip V
Understanding comes when I transmute those moments of silence and inner chatter through journaling or visual imagery. Assembling various aspects of my life from a spread out or scattered state permits me to channel emotions on to a surface and from it evolves an integrated body of artwork.
