Kolkata and Varanasi haunt the consciousness of Singaporean artist Joan Kelly. Vaibhav Ratra talks to the people’s painter
Singaporean artist Joan Kelly probably has a karmic connect with India. And despite her stint as an art teacher in Singapore and her residency in New York’s art district, her expression is uniquely Indian. Her second exhibit at Habitat Centre takes off from her earlier thread and features people on the streets of Kolkata and Varanasi.
Through her artworks, she bears witness to our rituals and traditions, surviving the assault of “progress”, be they environmental degradation or economic depravity. “These paintings celebrate people who take out time from their busy lives each day to practise traditions and rituals. In a world where everything is about making money and moving markets, the actions of these people are independent and revolutionary,” says the artist. Excerpts:
In most of your paintings, there is a reflection of traditional cultures and values. What inspires you to do thatIJ
As I live in Singapore and the landscape there is mostly in verticals and grey, India exploded in colour by comparison. I started sketching in India at a very early age, during my school vacation. I used to do oil paintings on streets of India. These attracted a lot of attention because they heaved and breathed. I took some of these art works and photographs back to my studio so that the idea of India remained constant.
All my compositions and paintings are inspired by my real-time experiences. My engagement is essentially humane. I focus on traditional practices because I feel we are becoming too robotic in our expressions these days.
What I find fascinating about India is that people here still devote three to four hours at a gallery, something I do not see in the West. Intrinsically, Indians value art. Once I was painting some wrestlers in Banaras. They posed for me over three hours. They gave so much of their valuable time free. Didn’t even ask for a dime. This doesn’t happen elsewhere.
Most of your paintings are from Varanasi and KolkataIJ Why soIJ
Kolkata was the first city I visited and I absolutely fell in love with it. The people were so welcoming and inclusive. I interacted with many women on the streets of Kolkata, listened to their stories and started painting them. I have been invited to more Christmas parties in Kolkata than I have ever been in the US. They live life fully and pull their travails along. I am in love with Bengali fish in mustard sauce. Varanasi has a timeless spirituality about it and can anchor anybody.
As an artist, how did you get into a teaching jobIJ
I landed a job as an art and design consultant in Singapore quite by accident. They were just building the first art school offering a bachelor’s degree. When I studied the curriculum, I was shocked to find there was no subject called drawing. Yet that is basic of all visual communication. I wrote to the authorities arguing my case and after two months they reverted offering me a job.
Isn’t it difficult to keep the essence of India alive in her works, considering she just visits for short spellsIJ
I have been doing this for 12 years in between my job. Now it is part of my drill. I take photographs, capturing the emotion and feel of each face I chance upon during my journeys here. Then I recreate them in my paintings. I may change the settings and put them in imagined places but their spirit shines through just as they were in that frozen moment.
There are many contemporary artists in India. Do you follow anyIJ
I looked at some of the modernists but I don’t get a chance to see more works as there are only two Indian galleries in Singapore. There is a new heritage centre but it has more of history. I hope to witness some artists in New York this summer.
Future plansIJ
I am going do an art residency in New York. I am going to do an inter-generational programme with teens and adults, linking their commonalities.
Message for budding artistsIJ
It’s tough today to make a living as an artist. Had I started out today, I would have done some inter-disciplinary degree combining painting with anthropology or earth sciences so that I could get a job.