MY EXPERIMENTS WITH ART

Four creative minds take Sonali Shah through their distinct work, born out of the constraints of the lockdowns

-  Sonali Shah

What happens when artists are confined indoors for months on end? More artwork, of course! Photographers, who are usually out and about shooting at various spots and against varied backdrops, find themselves without the drama of electric lights and reflectors. For those creating magic with a paintbrush, the physical inspiration is now restrained to the local neighbourhood.

Great art is born from misery, many say. During World War I, for instance, artists played around with reality, and perspective to abstract life on the canvas. In 2020, as the world grappled with loss, artists once again turned inwards and channeled their creativity into new forms of expression. And art became a medium to experience and hold on to fleeting joy. Far from morbid, their works reflect a world of escape and innovation as creative minds dug deep and found a source of liveliness.

We speak with four artists to see how they have been honing their craft and experimenting with different media during the lockdowns. There's quite a bit of painting happening, a wishful recreation of a missed vacation, and some dabbling with resin.

SONY THOKCHOM

MANIPUR