Three top artists concur that they draw inspiration from nature, surroundings and even human forms
Art in any form is a language of and from the soul. It is an expression of one’s inner quest for deeper learning. An artist draws inspiration from nature and surroundings, real life people and their situations. Art is a feeling that the mind and heart together create using skill of the hand. Art is that you can feel, art is that you create. Our surroundings are more artistic than any art produced by a human artist. Each colour, curve, flow and shape exists already. The subconscious mind simply registers all that the human eye views. When an artist puts together bits and pieces of these memoirs it takes the form of an art piece. We spoke to three leading artists who have carved a niche for themselves in the world of art. Their reputation has crossed geographical boundaries and drawn applause. Here are some excerpts from our interaction with them.
Shuchi Khanna
For her, art is what eyes see and heart perceives. Shuchi Khanna is the head of department at Sanskriti School, New Delhi, and believes that art is a feeling that the mind and heart together create using skill of the hand. Art is that you can feel, art is that you create.
Her journey as an artist has been a slow growth process. “My journey has been show and steady. The more I worked the more I evolved and matured in my work,” says Shuchi.
She draws inspiration from nature and surroundings, real life people and their situations. She is planning to start making instillations, conceptual art and three dimensional works.
Shuchi is not just an artist, she is an art lover too and you will find her work at various art galleries and art events in India and abroad .
Nikki Anand
Her journey as an artist is ongoing and each artwork is a teacher that urges her to take on the next to apply the last experience which in turn teaches yet another something. Nikki Anand would compare her journey of art and an artist to a relay race. “Each generation hands over the brush to the next and so on. I am just a mere team player doing my part,” says Nikki.
Art in any form is a language of and from the soul. It is an expression of one’s inner quest for deeper learning. “Art as in paintings is a visual soother for the senses. For me, I can say art is a part of my heart. It makes me happy not just to create it but also gives me a deep sense of satisfaction bringing happiness to those viewing it. Art gives my life a reason and a mission for my existence as a human being. This is channelled into bringing a positive and uplifting energy form into our world,” she adds.
For her, each aspect of our surroundings is more artistic than any art produced by a human artist. Each colour, curve, flow and shape exists already. The subconscious mind simply registers all that the human eye views. When an artist puts together bits and pieces of these memoirs, it creates a formation which we call ‘Art’
Even though she is an artist of Indian origin, it is not typically Indian art. “I have been fortunate that it is being understood, appreciated and exhibited worldwide as it has no man made cultural barriers. This year I was invited by the University of Southern California for a four-month study based (art and science) solo exhibit with their Institute of Genetic Medicine art gallery. I was also invited twice this year to the California home for Veterans in Los Angeles for an exhibition and also for art therapy workshops with them. Along with some art galleries, my studio in New Delhi is my base from where I work, exhibit and hold art therapy workshops and classes for art students,” says Nikki.
Nikki has been blessed and honoured with awards for excellence both in India and New York. The United Nations Association of Beverly Hills in California, USA has also endorsed my work. CalVets – Veterans’ home in Los Angeles has recently expressed their desire to create an art programme with her on a regular basis for art therapy workshops with them and refugees in United States of America.
She believes that destiny has it planned already. “Each day I take on the cue to which direction life wants me to go. My plan is to do the best I can and continue my journey with art. I am currently working on my new collection for an organization – Voices of Women worldwide (VOWW) in New York,” smiles Nikki.
Sunayana Malhotra
For Sunayana Malhotra, art is a natural expression of her innermost feelings. As a child, she was always fascinated by different art forms. Born and brought up in Delhi, she spent her childhood in learning various forms of art like Hindustani classical music and singing, easel painting, life studies in charcoal and graphite. To fulfill her desire to learn art more closely, she studied art at Triveni Kala Sangam, one of the best art institutes in Delhi. Her journey as an artist came to a halt when she was young but kick started again once she got married.
Taking inspiration from everything around her, she paints magnificently, capturing the finest details in the most beautiful way possible. ‘My paintings are a reflection of everything I see around, from people to places, to nature. I try to capture the essence of things in the liveliest manner,” she says. She is so deeply inspired and obsessed by the female body that she uses her portraits to express her own self. The paintings are so aesthetically drawn that they speak their own story. “For me the female form is not glorified or portrayed to please any male voyeuristic attitude, but it is of a real woman whose body tells of her journey from puberty to motherhood to her breast feeding days and finally to menopause,” she shares.
Her paintings are the windows of her mind and heart. She has worked with many leading interior designers to enhance the homes and offices in Delhi with her artwork, where she personally visits homes and offices to create art pieces that match up to the expectations of her clients.
She has exhibited her artwork in many places in India and her paintings are in many private collections in London, Muscat, Dubai, USA, New Zealand and Australia. Her first exhibition was in Ashoka Hotel Art Lounge and later at various other places like Lalit Kala Academy, Taj Palace, Habitat Centre, Triveni Kala Sangam, and 5-star hotel galleries.
She aspires to work more and more and yearns to paint a wall at some prominent place in Delhi. She wants to travel round the world in a bid to showcase her fine artwork.