The Goan: Why are you so fascinated with art?
Mahua Ray: Art is very fascinating. To me, art is a language where I feel very comfortable in expressing my feelings.
TG: Is there a certain science to art, or should it left to each person to interpret it in their own way?
MR: I guess it’s a combination of logic and emotion. If there is no emotion then there is no creation. At the same time, logic helps to give a shape to the creation. Interpretation comes from our personal experiences in life. So it has to be different from person to person.
TG: You’ve worked with a school and built up their art department. What did that entail?
MR: It is like giving birth to a child and then bringing it up. You need dedication, involvement and passion, as well as support from the institution. I got my inspiration from within, so I did it.
TG: When you say ‘art as holistic learning’ what exactly does that mean?
MR: As an educationist, I truly believe that holistic learning means not only scoring marks; but helping to make one more human, to keep in touch with reality. It is very important to maintain a healthy lifestyle.
TG: In your opinion, can art help develop minds and influence children in a better way? Why?
MR: The right brain is the creative brain, the left brain is the logical half. So the best utilisation of the right brain and the left brain is art. But children can also inspire. I started teaching pottery before I started working with it as a medium. The children were my teachers in that aspect.
TG: What would be your ideal form or style of art?
I think that would be semi realistic; I love to play with shapes. Playing with clouds in the sky is my inspiration. They are my imaginary characters.
TG: The Masters, back in the Renaissance, Impressionist ages, had put their own stamp on the timeline of art and its history. Do we see something similar happening now?
MR: During the Renaissance period, Masters were purely driven by creativity, while today a lot of us are driven by fame, money and seeing our name up in lights. Only time will tell if our generation is able to leave any mark of distinction, to be honest.
TG: Is pottery as therapeutic as many say it is?
MR: Yes, of course. It helps to develop the nervous system, motor skills, improves your concentration levels, your powers of observation… It gives you the courage to make mistakes and start all over again, and it also pushes you to take risks. I also helps cure depression and soothe your nerves.
TG: What has been your most inspiring personal experience over the years?
MR: Meeting Debiprasad Roy Chowdhury as a child; he was fascinated by my work. I also received tremendous encouragement from my parents, my teachers in school, college, university, specifically from my Ma and now from my husband, Amit Ray and my son Anuran Ray. Then when I see kids playing with clay and creating different shapes out of nothing, they become my inspiration as well.
Telling stories through paint and clay
Down in Goa to give a talk on ‘Creativity Unplugged’, painter, sculptor, potter and teacher Mahua Ray discusses inspiration and art
The Goan: Why are you so fascinated with art?
Mahua Ray: Art is very fascinating. To me, art is a language where I feel very comfortable in expressing my feelings.
TG: Is there a certain science to art, or should it left to each person to interpret it in their own way?
MR: I guess it’s a combination of logic and emotion. If there is no emotion then there is no creation. At the same time, logic helps to give a shape to the creation. Interpretation comes from our personal experiences in life. So it has to be different from person to person.
TG: You’ve worked with a school and built up their art department. What did that entail?
MR: It is like giving birth to a child and then bringing it up. You need dedication, involvement and passion, as well as support from the institution. I got my inspiration from within, so I did it.
TG: When you say ‘art as holistic learning’ what exactly does that mean?
MR: As an educationist, I truly believe that holistic learning means not only scoring marks; but helping to make one more human, to keep in touch with reality. It is very important to maintain a healthy lifestyle.
TG: In your opinion, can art help develop minds and influence children in a better way? Why?
MR: The right brain is the creative brain, the left brain is the logical half. So the best utilisation of the right brain and the left brain is art. But children can also inspire. I started teaching pottery before I started working with it as a medium. The children were my teachers in that aspect.
TG: What would be your ideal form or style of art?
I think that would be semi realistic; I love to play with shapes. Playing with clouds in the sky is my inspiration. They are my imaginary characters.
TG: The Masters, back in the Renaissance, Impressionist ages, had put their own stamp on the timeline of art and its history. Do we see something similar happening now?
MR: During the Renaissance period, Masters were purely driven by creativity, while today a lot of us are driven by fame, money and seeing our name up in lights. Only time will tell if our generation is able to leave any mark of distinction, to be honest.
TG: Is pottery as therapeutic as many say it is?
MR: Yes, of course. It helps to develop the nervous system, motor skills, improves your concentration levels, your powers of observation… It gives you the courage to make mistakes and start all over again, and it also pushes you to take risks. I also helps cure depression and soothe your nerves.
TG: What has been your most inspiring personal experience over the years?
MR: Meeting Debiprasad Roy Chowdhury as a child; he was fascinated by my work. I also received tremendous encouragement from my parents, my teachers in school, college, university, specifically from my Ma and now from my husband, Amit Ray and my son Anuran Ray. Then when I see kids playing with clay and creating different shapes out of nothing, they become my inspiration as well.
