Featured Artist | Manisha Mohnani

Artist Portfolio Magazine

Manisha Mohnani  | Bangaluru, Karnataka, India
@artistmanisha.m

Artist Statement

I was introduced to art at a very young age. Being an introvert, I hardly interacted with the world outside, but my inner world was full of creativity, imagination, and stories. My early memories are of solitary art weekends, drawing portraits from my literature textbooks and painting the dream-like world of compositions. Creating thus became my passion, it was a fuel for my mental simulation. My interest was further cultivated and developed when I opted for a Bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts followed by a Master’s degree.

After completing my education, I delved even more into my Art practice. Inspiration came to me from various sources, and my art became an amalgamation of my experiences as a painter. My main sources of creations are thoughtful and philosophical interactions, emotions and literature. I take a part of everything I get attached to, feel and imagine. The emotions that bind words together creating a story intrigue me often. My creative works resonate with emotional interaction and a sense of solitude.

Painting for me is an expression of impressions. Impressions of all those experiences we go through simultaneously witnessing emotions as well, absorbing them and trying to paint them. They affect my emotional state which ultimately seeps into my artwork. I believe art inspired by emotions, touches the heart of the visitor and I want the viewer to take that journey. My drawing process thus starts from the thought that has caught my attention at that moment. I like to hold the feeling, keep thinking about it. I like references, excerpts from books, life etc. Colour is a vital concern and a powerful force in all my work, it is a quality that has the most emotional impact in a painting. The colours I use is a way I respond to the subject. whether it is vibrant, pastel or black and white. I always work with the idea of the result I want and the sequence of techniques and colours with necessary sketching.

​I feel that the temperament and aesthetics of oil painting, pen and ink suits me better. The figures in my paintings are emotion centric and floating in a dream-like state. The graceful distortions of the face and body, the gestures of hands, curling of the feet complement movement in solitude. My creative depictions were devoid of decorative touches as I am similar in my life but that has been changing and developing overtime as I have started to resonate with my surroundings of intense, intricate identity and cultural background.

Manisha Mohnani

(Indian Visual Artist – Surrealist)

 Brahma 1 | Pen and Ink on Handmade Sheet | 8 in * 8 in
Brahma 1 | Pen and Ink on Handmade Sheet | 8 in * 8 in
Brahma 2 | Pen and Ink on Handmade Sheet | 8 in * 8 in\
Brahma 2 | Pen and Ink on Handmade Sheet | 8 in * 8 in\
Rumination 2 | Pen and Ink on Handmade Sheets | 16.5 in * 11.5 in
Rumination 2 | Pen and Ink on Handmade Sheets | 16.5 in * 11.5 in
Divine | Mixed media on Handmade Sheet | 11.5 in * 8.2 in
Divine | Mixed media on Handmade Sheet | 11.5 in * 8.2 in