ARTIST PROFILE | HEMA SHIRONI

As parents who are both artists, our days may not always follow a strict schedule or remain the same. We wish to create a diverse divine environment for our child. Creating a shared shrine with representations of Buddha, Hindu goddesses, and the Holy Family, we consider incorporating elements from different faiths educationally and respectfully. Spending time cleaning the studio and cooking meals for the day is added to my morning routine. Once I complete them, it makes me feel free and leads me to work at my studio production while maintaining a healthy balance with my family as well.

My practice is deeply rooted in storytelling, encompassing a wide range of experiences and memories from my childhood to the present. Growing up in the cities of Kandy and Matale, surrounded by mountains, tea plantations, and sacred Buddhist sites, I was exposed to a diverse cultural environment. Coming from a mixed religious background, with my father being Catholic and my mother being Hindu, I learnt to navigate between two traditions, finding inspiration and understanding in both.

My upbringing involved visits to Hindu temples with my grandmother and mother, where I heard religious stories and gained insights into their deep devotion. Simultaneously, attending a Catholic school and engaging with Bible stories shaped my religious experiences. This exposure to different religious practices and narratives has influenced my artistic perspective and allowed me to reflect on thoughts without feeling constrained by religious boundaries.

Firstly, I was a stranger to Jaffna. However, being in a new environment allowed me to observe and experience things through a different lens—the unique features, colors, textures, and atmosphere of the landscape offers diverse perspectives.It was traditional academic technique that I learned there. Basically, drawing, painting, photography, designs, and many other techniques, but in multiple ways. Once the government announced the end of the war, many southern artists were relocated to the north for teaching purposes which indicated a significant shift in post-war art education. For the first and the second year of university, I had the opportunity to study under these artists and incorporate their unique insights into my creative processes, techniques, and approaches to making. It allowed me to witness firsthand how these artists navigate challenges, experiment with different mediums, and develop their artistic ideas. But it didn’t continue... 

While it's unfortunate that I didn't have the same opportunity for such interactions during my senior years, the University did offer many different classes. However, I believe I had limited opportunities to explore diverse artistic paths and engage in meaningful dialogue with my teachers. The absence of critique sessions and the one-directional teaching approach made boundaries for the creative productions. When rethinking my earlier studies, it gives me an opportunity for self-reflection and helps me consider what I genuinely want to pursue.

The period I experienced during the pandemic was a remarkable time not just for me but for the entire world. The global isolation and restrictions imposed during this time forced everyone to adapt and find new ways of navigating through daily life. Completing my Masters at BNU during this challenging period presented unique obstacles, such as limited materials, unexpected circumstances, virtual gatherings, and online classes. However, these limitations and circumstances pushed me to work with the available mediums in my surroundings, prompting me to explore unconventional materials and repurpose items like leftover cut pieces, old bedsheets, clothes, and other discarded objects from my hostel mates before they left.The phrase "Stay home and stay safe" resonated with me and sparked my contemplation on the meaning of the house. This concept became a focal point in my artistic exploration, and I began to unravel its significance through different mediums. The process involved accidental experiments and unexpected discoveries that steered me in new directions and opened new possibilities for my art.

The partition of India and Pakistan created a profound sense of loss, trauma, and identity struggles for those directly affected by it. People had to adapt to new geographical and cultural surroundings, leaving behind their homes, belongings, and sometimes even their loved ones. The experiences of this tumultuous time found their way into various forms of artistic expression, such as poetry, novels, songs, and visual arts. Mentors like Prof. Salima Hashmi provided invaluable insights, critique, and encouragement, helping me develop skills and refine my artistic voice, encouraging deeper exploration of my chosen medium.