Art inspired from spiritual chants

For a number of artists, listening to music while creating art is imperative. Nairobi-based artist Drishti Chawla is one of them. She cannot paint without listening to a kirtan, shabad, Buddhist or Sikh chant.

A prime reason for this dependence is the very nature of her work. Chawla creates 'spiritual' paintings with elements such as the Buddha, calligraphic chants, swirling galaxies, prayer flags, ethereal light to evoke a sense of calm within the viewer. The spiritual chants keep her blissful to paint, sometimes even for six to seven hours at a stretch.

As a child, Chawla was taught to meditate, pray and watch her thoughts by her mother.

But the two worlds, art and spirituality didn't collude when she completed a commercial art degree from Sophia College, or dabbled in advertising in 2006, or even took on painting abstract full-time, exhibiting and teaching art at American School of Bombay in 2007.

It only happened in 2010, quite out-of-the-blue. Chawla says, "It was the moment I figured I want to be happy with everything I do. I realised that whenever I would paint to chants, the painting felt complete, very close to what I pictured in mind."

The first canvas itself, the face of Buddha, she painted while intentionally listening to chants. It felt different for the positive energies and calm it emitted. And six years later, it's a practice she still continues. "I don't enjoy painting and the painting doesn't turn out right without the chants.."

Before she starts to paint, the 32-year-old recites a soul healing incantation, a Tao technique that believes inanimate objects, like the tools of one's profession, possess a soul. It goes like this: 'Dear soul of the canvas, easel, paints and brushes. I love, honour and appreciate you. Please come together in harmony to create a piece of art appreciated by all.'

Reds, oranges and yellows dominate her canvas, followed by blues and greens. Blacks, greys, whites and pastels are used sparingly unless painting the inevitable, like an elephant. "My paintings are never 'sad'. The colours must reflect light."

Precautions to maintain such positivity are many: she avoids painting when angry; sometimes the chant on loop is made to coincide with the subject on canvas – Om mani Padme Hum is on when painting the Buddha. Also, no interruptions while painting. "Everyone at home knows that and no one disturbs me," adds Chawla.

Even her travels have become hunting grounds for spiritual influences. For instance, the aftermath of a visit to Leh and Ladakh saw a surge of paintings on the Buddha, monasteries, barren mountains and water-bodies, prayer flags and chants. Aspects from the safaris, beaches, mountainsides and quietude of Nairobi, her new home after marriage in 2015, are her latest subjects.

Apart from listening to multi-faith chants, she practices the Brahma Kumari way of meditation: sitting for half-an-hour at the start and end of the day in self-reflection and listening to discourses by her spiritual guru Sister Shivani.

Chawla says these multi-faith tendencies emerge from her belief that there is more than one pathway to reach a spiritual goal. "These 'spiritual tools' have made me more open as a person and incorporate new elements in my work. They help me to keep the faith alive and have patience that when things don't go my way, another opportunity will crop up."

For instance, she is yet to crack the art scene in Nairobi. "Art galleries here only promote indigenous art and schools are not keen about an art teacher. But I'm not depressed because my paintings are being showcased at exhibitions in Mumbai."

The Index interior art enclave from October 13-16 just showcased seven of her artworks on animals and abstracts.