Staying true to my soul

So, I’m absolutely bursting with inspiration after my recent trip to India. I’ve got a ton of things I want to share, and I’ve decided to break it down into different topics, or else it might turn into a jumble of random thoughts.

In this first post, I want to delve into the spiritual side of my experience. I’m half Indian but had never visited the country before. My dad, who’s Indian but born in New Zealand, has been there multiple times and always dreamt of having our whole family visit together. However, life kept throwing obstacles our way – pregnancies, babies, work commitments, and of course, the notorious Covid. But guess what? We finally managed to synchronise our schedules and set a date for 14 of us to explore the well-trodden Golden Triangle tourist route. Plus, we had three friends join us, turning our adventure into a lively group of 17 (9 adults and 8 children). What a journey it turned out to be!

Just a heads up, this isn’t your typical holiday post with travel recommendations. Nope, this one’s all about me being a bit self-indulgent. I’m putting pen to paper (or fingers to keys) to untangle my thoughts about my recent experiences and figure out how they might weave into my life and art. Thanks for joining me on this introspective journey!

I’m very open when it comes to people’s thoughts on spirituality and religion. Maybe it’s because I don’t neatly fit into one specific category in these matters. It’s a bit controversial, given that my kids attend a Catholic school. While I may not personally identify as Catholic, I strongly believe that the values instilled by ANY religion provide an excellent foundation for children. Think about it—lessons on courage, creativity, thankfulness, responsibility, kindness, compassion, peace, service, justice, trust, hope, love, forgiveness, friendship, humility, generosity, reverence and respect. There’s so much goodness there!

"All great art owes the inspiration of religion. When spring comes, trees burst into blossoms. What spring is to the trees, inspiration is to the human race. All creative art activity, such as architecture, culture, painting, poetry and music is an expression of spiritual joy felt by sensitive people." Randhawa and Randhawa (1980) 

Indian traditional art, whether it’s in the form of architecture, music, paintings, embroidery designs, wood carvings, metal craft, potteries or sculpture, vividly reflects the spiritual beliefs and the diverse gods they worship. I won’t dive too deep into the specific religions followed, but to give you an idea, around 79.8% of the Indian population practices Hinduism, 14.2% follows Islam, 2.3% Christianity, 1.7% Sikhism, 0.7% Buddhism, and 0.4% Jainism. During our exploration, we came across predominantly Hindu or Islamic creative influences. However, at a certain point, I stopped putting them into categories and simply appreciated them for their beauty and the meaningful messages they conveyed.

There’s this gentle, slowness that washed over me as I admired their artworks – a quality I’ve always wished my own art could embody, regardless of the execution. It’s the spirit and the deep connection to others and nature that keeps pulling me in – something I actually wrote about right at the start when I set up my website. My soul just gravitates toward it, and I felt a profound connection while strolling through those wonderous temples or museums.

I’ve always been captivated by the intricate details in certain artworks, even though it seems at odds with my own creations that feature bold strokes and simple, uncomplicated patterns. I did dabble with intricate pen work in the past but eventually embraced my current style.

Now, my inner graphic designer is throwing a question out there: “Why not dive into various styles?” As a designer, the aim is to birth an idea and make it come alive, mirroring the values, essence, and personality of the client. Each client brings a unique idea, leading to a different execution. So, if I’m the client, armed with my solid concept of a slow, spiritual connection, can’t I explore various executions? Or does that go against the norm for those who follow a particular artist for their signature style? The designer in me is all about experimenting, playing... so I want the artist in me to do the same while keeping that strong foundational connection – whether it’s to people, animals, or nature. After my journey through India, I’ve got this itch to ‘play’ with the beautiful patterns and motifs I encountered. There’s so much vibrant color – sometimes muted, sometimes bold – and I’m eager to explore it all without being confined to a specific style I’ve set for myself. As long as the idea and feel remain true to my soul, that’s what matters most.

And then perhaps, it's not just about getting lost in the intricate details, but it's about weaving in the motifs, patterns, and the essence of nature from my own background – a blend of India, New Zealand, and Scotland. Nature has this incredible knack for inspiring us. Our cultural roots and artworks help preserve the richness of history in our surroundings. The visuals that linger and capture human imagination often emerge from the world of art.

Folk art, in particular, has a special place in my heart for its captivating storytelling and its ability to unveil something new every time you gaze at it. There's this inner calling, a connection to my spirit, urging me to infuse parts of myself into my art. Just like the mesmerising works I came across.

I've begun to explore the historical depths of Indian art and what various elements symbolise in the spiritual realm – but hey, that's a story for the next post! Stay tuned!