Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Radha Lakshmi. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Alright, Radha thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?
As a Mandala artist, the community ephemeral mandalas project holds special meaning for me. The creation of mandalas is a deeply spiritual and meditative practice that represents unity and harmony. By engaging the community in this project, I am fostering a sense of connection and collaboration among individuals. The ephemeral nature of the mandalas emphasizes the transient nature of life and encourages mindfulness and presence in the moment. Through this project, I am not only expressing my artistic creativity but also creating a space for reflection, healing, and collective growth. The meaningfulness of this project lies in its ability to bring people together, promote self-expression, and inspire a sense of belonging within the community.
My art is a beautiful reflection of my unique journey and experiences as a 72-year-old woman from India living in the US. It is a testament to my dedication in preserving and celebrating our culture and rituals through the medium of printmaking and community art. My work carries the essence of our heritage, capturing the vibrant colors, intricate patterns, and deep symbolism that have been passed down through generations. My art tells the story of resilience, identity, and the power of tradition. It is a testament to my creativity, skill, and the love I have for our ancient roots. I keep creating and sharing my art with the world, as it truly represents a rich tapestry of south indian cultural history and a testament to my artistic vision!
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
Yes, sure. I was born in Chennai, India, in 1951. I consider myself a community artist. I’m a mother, a daughter, a sister, and a grandmother, partner and avery passionate individual. I love life. Over the years, I have traveled and collaborated with tribal artists in India, Australia, and the First Nations people in Canada. It has empowered me in many ways. My art has evolved into this magical, spiritual connotation that is still being kept alive by myself and other indigenous from around the world. I feel like my life has come full circle.
In Chennai, Southern India, women rise before dawn. It is their quiet time with the universe, free from the hectic schedule about to begin with the rising of the sun. They clean the front yards of their homes and draw geometrical rice powdered patterns on the ground leading to the entrances of their home. It’s a traditional Indian ritual meant to create a sacred space as one enters the home. The beauty of the designs is supposed to capture any bad energy that might enter the home. For over 2,000 years mothers have passed this tradition and knowledge to their daughters. It is different in other parts of India, and here in the West, it’s commonly associated with Buddhism and the designs we know as mandalas. We women woke up at the crack of dawn, helped the older women mix the rice powder into a paste, and listen to them gossip about their marriages, the milkman, and everything else in between. As I grew into a young woman, I found a connection with this ritual called Mandala/Kolam. I would go on to beat breast cancer, survive an abusive marriage, fall in love, and become a community artist. I find healing in the beauty of nature, and explore our spirituality through ritual and art forms.
My life has come full circle, just like the mandala. The mandala, “circle” in Sanskrit, represents wholeness, an integrated view of the world and the universe. Making a mandala is described as the process of mapping one’s inner world. My meditation, art, and teaching how to create sacred spaces has made me complete. I find myself slipping into a trance-like state and lose myself to the cosmic story that is unfolding in front of my very eyes. This whole process is very ritualized. Many people will say that no healing can happen unless there’s a ritual involved, some kind of routine. And in my case, it’s the ritual of teaching to create sacred spaces through meditation or a mandala.
My business name is Utsavastu meaning ‘A Celeberation of Sacred Spaces’. Thats what I am offering to the community. At the Table Storytelling through food, meaningful art and Southen Indian Cooking Classes.
Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?
I have told this story so many times, While I was grieving the loss of my mother, who died on August 22, 2000, and my second marriage ending, I had a door closing moment. The door opening proceeded with an opportunity to attend an international printmaking workshop conducted by Basil Hall, then head of the Northern Editions Print department at Charles Darwin University, Australia. At this workshop, I met Yolngu artists Naminapu Maymuru White and Boliny Wanambi, and many other gifted individuals working on their journey of personal loss.
While in Australia, I became close to the well-known Yolngu artist Naminapu from Buku-Larrngay Mulka Art Centre in Yirrkala, located in the Northern Territory of Australia. She became an integral person in my grieving for my mother’s death as she and I worked collaboratively. During our work together, Naminapu adopted me as her daughter in her community and gave me a unique name, “Dhumarr,” which in Yolngu languages means Honey Bee. The Aboriginal culture is ancient. Integral to the culture is the concept of Dreamtime.
Working with Nami was a phenomenal experience on a spiritual, emotional, and artistic level. What left an impression on me was that the designs used in our collaboration were part of our daily ritual life. The patterns in the artwork are ideas and concepts that emerge from the legends and stories of South India and Arnhem Land. They represent the connection between women in our families and culture. It was a healing force in coming to terms with my own life’s turning points.
The art ‘The Hawk and the Sea Hawk’ tells the story of my mother (the Hawk) taking me (Dhumarr) back to my Ancestors (Nami)(Australian Goshawk). Through this work, I healed from my losses. The genesis of the print work on the paper shown above is a work based on the fabric art shown below. They were both organic and spiritual.
I had not seen this work on fabric in over 18 years as it was tucked away in a closet in Australia. It remained a memory. However, when it was returned to me very recently by a dear friend, I looked at it with fresh eyes. After all the years, the linkage is stunning and stands the test of time. I invite you to study the elements.
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
Being a Community Artist and working with rich age span of people.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.radartist.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/radartist/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/radha.lakshmi.165/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/radha-lakshmi-a8ba235/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@radartist1
- Other: www.utsavastu.com
Image Credits
My portrait is by Emily Palm