Nude Painting

My career in art began serendipitously. As a singer suffering from a serious vocal cord injury, I turned to painting as a means of self-expression. It was a spontaneous process, resulting in a figurative style dominated by a vibrant use of colour. Pieces such as ‘The Flautist’ are typical of this period. Later, the focus of my work shifted. Certain life experiences had forced me into an internal battle seeking a balance between emotions and logic that led me to the realm of spirituality. The work produced during ‘Equilibrium’ series is a subconscious reflection of my journey during this period. A characteristic example of work from this phase is ‘Aum to Aum - Cycle of Life’. In 2009, an unfortunate event of my career left me upset and my mind was riddled with many questions. I could not connect to my work. Nothing seemed right. The frustration led me to rebel against any expectations or predefined rules. I wanted to break free and allowed myself to freely and impulsively assault 30 meters of canvas. ‘Catharsis’ was born, followed by the ‘Mind-Map’ series. I felt refreshed, but unfortunately not for long. It was the beginning of my struggle with depression that lasted for several years - and is a challenge I face even today, like many others. My highs allow me to create some of my best works but my lows have meant that there have been months – and sometimes even years – when I felt stuck, suffocated and blank. My journey has been a tumultuous one, with many ups and downs. I have faced several challenges, but over time have learnt to navigate through them and harness the energy to empower myself to overcome them. My work is a visual documentation of the emotional and psychological activity that takes place within me and a commentary on the intricacies of human behaviour, emotions and intellect in the context of change, growth and movement. I hope the viewers connect and follow along this rollercoaster journey: paving their own path, creating their own experience and finding their own truth.