‘Nature has always been my biggest muse’: artist Heena Pari talks about her solo art exhibition and what inspires her work

Aamirah Thayibah

Held between late March and early April, marking the two year anniversary of the Covid-19 lockdown, artist Heena Pari’s solo exhibition at 1Shantiroad was a perfect blend of aberration and domestic bliss. Called Cocooning, the exhibit explored themes of nature and abode, chronicling the lockdown through the eyes of an artist.

How has the local environment affected your art?
Having lived in Bengaluru for the past 21 years, I’d definitely say that the local culture has had an immense impact on my artistic process. The art scene in the city leans more on the alternate side rather than traditional, both of which I’ve come to appreciate. I draw a lot of my inspiration from nature and greenery, something that the city has in abundance and you can see that reflected in my work.

What is your inspiration?
I have always been in awe and motivated by the work of local artists, not only the art they produce but also their process of how they get to the end result. On a more personal level, I find a lot of inspiration in my fellow women artists, and of course, my mentors Shanta Mani M and Suresh Jayram are huge sources of encouragement for me.

Travel also has a huge influence on my work. Seeing how other artists work in art spaces such as the Kochin Biennale is extremely educating and enriching.

And obviously, as a homemaker and mother, I spend the majority of my time around my family and nature, the influence is clear in my work -- from walks under the sun to the shapes of clouds in the sky, nature has always been my biggest muse.

In a time so uncertain, tell us the thought process behind Cocooning.

I am the kind of person who processes her emotions visually, so as the world around me was clouded by news and panic about the pandemic, I retreated to art. Digital art to be specific. Even before the lockdown, I was in a headspace to do something creative, so the lockdown actually gave me a chance to isolate my priorities and work on them. The pandemic definitely had an effect on how I present my art. I preferred to juxtapose the outside world with the inside as a relevant and timely take on current affairs, hence the name Cocooning, which is an ode to both nature and the lockdown.

What made you decide to hold a solo show?
As for the idea for a solo show, I already had a personal gallery of my art in my home, so it seemed like the obvious next step. The idea of doing a solo exhibition was always on my bucket list, I will also be moving to the US in a few weeks so I’m glad to have done a successful show in a city that means so much to me.