top of page

Celebrating womanhood and promoting cultural diversity

Sukanthy Visagapperumal Egharevba

Interview with Sukanthy Visagapperumal Egharevba

1.      Please tell us something about your background and your art journey so far.

I was born in Jaffna, Sri Lanka and from a Hindu background. I was brought up in an artistic environment as my father was a great painter and teacher. My mother was also very creative. My father did commissions for temples and churches on religious themes, portraits and landscapes. Though I was not taught art in the secondary school, I inherited my creative genes  from my parents. Interestingly, my daughter  is an artist, designer (not by training) and an architect (by training). This shared passion of creativity has fostered a deeper sense of connection between my father, me and my daughter.



In Tamil culture, art and religion are intertwined and one cannot be separated from the other. Temples are typically noted for their high spires also known as Gopura, with numbers of steeped levels. The Gopuras are sites of artworks with various sculptures created to depict Hindu mythology. The dexterity of the fine detailing, and the decorative nature of the art forms naturally caught my artistic eye as a child. Apart from its religious inclination, art is integral to Tamil’s social existence. The making of Kolam is a good example. Kolam is a decorative design that uses finely ground rice flour and powdered colours to create unique patterns for floor decorations.  Kolams are the pride of Tamil women – it represents a dual visual language of humility and symbolism. It perfects one’s concentration and mental capacity. As a girl child, I was very much involved in the art of Kolam making and this resurfaced in later years as a leitmotif in my paintings. Inspired by the aforementioned cultural/spiritual frameworks, with my academic training at the Nsukka art school (The University of Nigeria, Nsukka), my practice is thus, symbolically spiritual, academic, expressive conceptual and contemplative.

The conceptual framework of my art is framed in Hybrid Aesthetics. This involves a creative synthesis of Tamil and Nigerian cultural influences and pictorial idioms/graphic systems as the point of departure in contemporary painterly compositions. Growing up among the Tiv people, I imbibed their sense of art and culture. The influence of both Tamil and Tiv art cultures, naturally, resulted in a synthesis of pictorial elements, hence, my works are a juxtaposition of Afro-Asian traditions and motifs that lead to the creation of works of art that cross-out cultural and aesthetic boundaries as well as define my identity as a dual citizen. Also being a female painter, my works tend to celebrate womanhood, promote cultural diversity as a quintessential reflection of globalism and universalism.

 

2.      Describe what a normal day looks like as an artist.

As I am teaching art in the university, it is not really normal for me to paint or work in the studio on a daily basis, but whenever I get a chance to be at the studio, I become very lively. Time spent in the studio is a kind of meditation for me. It brings out the real me and the best out of me. I normally work on sketches influenced by my experiences and  emotions. I mentally create a palette for a chosen sketch and proceed to paint. My recent paintings are often mixed media, and I plan the materials that would be part of the composition. I could spend many hours working as my painting process takes a long time; One painting may take a week or even months before completion.



3.      Can you tell us more about the theme in your art and your inspiration?

I create art for many reasons. Sometimes intentional while other times intuitional and spontaneous. As a child, I started scribbling on              all the notebooks and eventually there were sketches of female       heavily loaded with earrings and necklaces and bangles and long              hairs. I recollect this because it marks the origin on my interest in   feminine issues. That is not to say that I’m a feminist. I’m neither a           feminist nor am I against their views. As a female painter, I am            naturally inspired by women. I am drawn to the pains and pleasures that are very special and peculiar to us, hence my themes            oftentimes, revolve around them. Thus, my goal as an artist is first              to celebrate and promote womanhood specially to redeem feminine dignity and accentuating the beauty of womanhood.

As a dual citizen (Sri Lankan and Nigerian), my goal as an artist is also to celebrate cultural diversity in art within our pluralistic society, while also affirming and enhancing pride in each individual’s artistic heritage. This is often achieved in my practice through the juxtaposition of Tamil, Tiv, Uli and Nsibidi cultural elements and expressive modes in my compositions.

 

4.      How does your art life impact other parts of your life?

First and foremost, being an artist has impacted me in every area  of my life. Being a creative person, I apply my creative thinking              ability to handle challenges arising from work or home fronts. As a    lecturer, I am able to impact knowledge, guide and mentor              students positively.

 


5.      Could you share any difficulties and hardships you had to face in life and how or if you managed/overcame them?

Being an artist and at the same time, combining duties as a wife and mother was really challenging at one point in my life. Hence, I could not really practice art or teach for about 10 years. It’s a worthy experience which I don’t regret.

Then migration also caused some challenges initially, but later that experience helped me to learn more about other art cultures and effectively synthesize them in my studio paintings.

I believe that challenges I have faced in life have become good experiences and eventually made me a better version of me.

 

6.      Share your worst experience in the art world.

Galleries oftentimes, support artists who are well known and not encouraging unknown and emerging artists. If we have to exhibit, the venue costs unaffordable money.

 

7.      What practical advice can you give to fellow artists?

To be an artist, one has to be very consistent in the art practice. It is essential to update our skills and knowledge to thrive in the art word. Most importantly, we need to be connected to art groups and art related activities.


8.      What are you working on at the moment and are there any upcoming events you would like to talk about?

I am currently working on a theme to be titled, connecting the dotted lines ….this is about my journey as an artist from my years in Sri lanka; childhood, war, migration and through my years in Nigeria, my transformation from one continent to another, from one culture to another, how it has affected my life as an artist and as a person.

Circles and dots are going to be the dominant motifs in the body of works as circles symbolize life, continuity and progress. Aside that the role of dots in kolam art and my work cannot be over emphasized.


FB: Sukanthy Visagapperumal Egharevba

 

bottom of page