Paint brushes and canvas,
Needles and threads,
Pen and papers,
These are merely tools but the ability to apply your own imagination using them reflects your creative side.
“Creativity is a phenomenon whereby something uniquely different and artistic is formed. Creativity is present in every individual.You already have it in you. You just need to let it out, let it breathe and reach its full potential.”
Introducing Siddharth Shankar, our Uncommon creative artist who not only discovered his creative side but also used it to make his contribution to the society. Here’s his intriguing candid session with The Uncommon box. It’s a real pleasure for us at The Uncommon Box to connect you with this wonderful artist with whom you will surely relate. Read on for an insight into his journey!
About himself :
A post-graduate with MBA in Travel and Tourism, I have worked in different sections of the corporate world. All through this 32 year long journey, I have seen my share of ups and downs!
Since my childhood, I believed and related very well with the medium of expression through songs, paintings, music and other creative activities.
“I strongly believe that creativity is a medium through which we can express the unspoken!”
The Journey so far
In the year 2013, I took some time for myself and thought about my purpose in life – what am I doing? What I wanted to do? What have I achieved?
Just another day at the work-place was simply not enough for me. Hence, I applied for a fellowship program on bringing social change through art and creativity and soon in 2014 got selected for a project based on Art-therapy.
“Creativity has always been an effective and excellent tool for psychological researches”.
I took this art therapy project into the multiple red-light areas of Kolkata and started working with the youth there. A year into this project and I was successful in achieving my objective to help them through various forms to express their unspoken feelings , their desires towards life which are suppressed due to the vulnerable environment they live in. I believe that giving them a platform to explore their own self in a new way, celebrating life with elements of their daily usage, positively comforts them to overcome their inferiority. It gives me immense joy and satisfaction to see these youth now working on multiple creative fields.
We also got a chance to showcase our work on the prestigious Constitution Hall at Delhi.
The Joy that it brings!
“Creations or art helped me to convey my opinions, my fight against the stereotypes with much more strengths”.
I am now working on ART THERAPY in different marginalized sections of societies which in turn is helping me to grow my self reliance and helping these youth to re-establish their self-esteem.
As an artist, I am yet to even start! Though I have not approached this professionally, yet but since childhood, painting and craft have been the best way to express my feelings.
“My journey so far is like a self therapy for the wounds I never expressed”
Source of inspiration:
My dad has been a constant and continuous source of inspiration for me, If not for him I would have never been exposed into the creative world and discovered my creative side.
He taught me never to compromise on oneself, satisfaction and happiness of any deed is most important irrespective of the returns you get from doing it!
If it makes you happy then earnings should not matter. Being a singer, artist and painter himself, he made me realize that there are many people unsatisfied with their daily ongoing routine life but don’t know how to overcome that and get into their creative comfort zone such as painting, writing poems, dance and drama etc.
“There is nothing wrong in following your dreams and doing things that gives you satisfaction in life! He has always been my pillar of support and my biggest inspiration. I am so proud to be his son.”
What motivates me:
“Encouraging appreciation from the audience, the happiness and sense of achievement my students gain have been a great motivating factor”
My first show on ART as a therapy, along with the youth group from the redlight area comprised drama a fusion of compiling dance, painting, craft and poetry written by them.
That day changed my life as I saw the happiness among my students, who not only got the chance to participate in mainstream drama group but also got to express themselves on a larger platform.
Always drowned in stereotypes, and not being able to cross the gender bias, of being marginalised, of never giving importance to their own existence, they found their own identity!
Though it may seem an insignificant stepping stone on the road of my journey, it gave me such strong motivation!
Challenges:
In every field of work, there are challenges to face. When my journey as a therapist started, I faced gender discrimination. The fact that we had boys, girls and transgender – broke all stereotypes. Our society and people have never ending questions, and then the religion and its constructions also play a great role in creating road blocks!
“Creativity has no religion, gender or caste. Art works are always very intense and inter-related to the souls”
The parents inthe slums were not very happy during initial stages- it was a continuous counselling process.
Also expressing the feelings being an introvert initially was a bit of trouble!
Convincing my family that my true calling lies in art and coming out of that situation seemed like a bad dream, it took me long years to make my place in this profession
Why does he do what he loves:
“Expressing my feelings in form of paintings, songs, and poems is easier way of living life that embraces originality and makes unique connections between non -constructed ideas”
“I love the detailing and miniature works from different monasteries. It helps me grow and inculcates patience, makes me feel comfortable, relaxed and noticed. Being very frank, nothing particularty influenced me, I love the work that I do! “
Plans and dreams:
Making a TEAM working on different aspects of creativity like storytelling, compiling the fusions of different aspects and mediums of art and creativities and to use the daily life jugaads…
Words of advice:
For all the budding artists, I would like to say:
Always listen to your heart…creations are everywhere, nothing is wasted and learning is a creative process. Paint, play with colors…Don’t be sympathetic. Be empathetic, Creativity will automatically guide you to create another creation!
We at THE Uncommon box are delighted to have this especially talented creative person who inspires us to tune our ideas and imagination into reality! Art is not just for creative-types, even a small idea can drive your capacity to create great work. This is the time to get in touch with that inner monologue and express it. The urge to use it not only for yourself but also give a meaning to other’s lives makes the uncommon difference!
The content for this article was recreated by Team TUB Content Developer Tasneem Bharmal. A self-confessed wanderer, photographer, traveller, blogger and homechef, Tasneem is a bundle of enthusiasm and motivation. She is also the Moderator of the community’s Facebook group.
You can follow her work at these links:
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