I was blessed with the experience of growing up in Malaysia , where I was born. As a child, I vividly remember exploring the land's fertile collection of flora and century old trees in the tropical eden where my grandparents used to live. Honouring the blessings of mother nature and replicating her opulent beauty in the arts has long been practiced by the Malaysian natives. The intricate patterns and motifs inspired by the botanical beauty of the land are also reflected in women’s garments in its ostentatious vibrancy. Little did I know, in years to come, this would become the spirit of all of my paintings.
As a young girl, I took inspiration from the sarongs and batiks that adorned the women around me, and envisioned designing my own one day. I wondered what it would be like to explore limitless colour stories, gradients and pattern varieties. In 2007, I started painting merely to explore these curiousities. Beyond its extravagant colour schemes and ornamental beauty, I began asking, what if these visual imageries on sarongs and batiks could tell a story? If they could, what story could I tell?
The last 5 years of my life have offered an insight to this inquiry.I am a qualified makeup artist by trade having worked in the beauty industry since 2015. This line of work has afforded me the opportunity to meet and exchange insights with many women from all walks of life. The trials and tribulations, joy, and blessings of the lives of the women in my makeup chair over the years, have inspired me to create art based on our shared virtues. We may differ in our physical representation, culture and creed but in essence, I believe we are all driven by the desire for self actualisation, freedom and connection with our own version of the divine feminine.
My art is a reflection of my ever evolving journey and passion for continued personal growth. I find pleasure in experimenting and am constantly changing my creative process and sources of inspiration. Emulating water, my only obligation as an artist is to maintain my creative flow and fluidity. My only non-negotible rule is to ensure I am always in pursuit of my definition of excellence and sincerely in love with all that I do. To see my past and present work, learn more about my creative process and view my new and in-progress creations you can find me on Instagram @awatara.art