SHANTHI SHANMUGANATHAN

ARTIST AND PHILANTHROPIST

She is an Artist and a Philanthropist. Every year she finds a different cause and works towards raising funds to help various associations and charitable organizations in Sri Lanka. One year it was the Thalassemia Foundation of Sri Lanka, and another year it was the Karapitiya Hospital Children’s Ward followed by the Maharagama Hospital Children’s Ward and the Thellipallai Cancer Hospital in Jaffna; I am certain at some point in her life she has worked for or contributed towards most charitable organizations in the island. She is the Former President of Ikebana International - Sri Lanka Chapter and Shi-en Ikebana and Floral Art Society of Sri Lanka. She will be hosting her first solo art exhibition titled ‘Beyond Borders’ on the 21st and 22nd of January 2023 at the Lionel Wendt Art Gallery in Colombo. 

She is generous and kind to a fault. She is creative, artistic, and resourceful. She is diplomatic and has a magnetic personality. She rarely agrees to an interview, and I am both pleased and honored that she agreed to sit down and have a conversation with me for my column, She Can; Shanthi Shanmuganathan.

Who is Shanthi Shanmuganathan? What experiences in life have shaped her as an individual? 
First and foremost, I am a mother to two sons and a daughter and a grandmother to three beautiful granddaughters and one handsome grandson. I am a very family-oriented person and my home and family have always been my priority. I enjoy multitasking and has always been an active person. I don’t like to be idle, and I enjoy engaging in several activities including experimenting with different cuisines and whipping up meals for friends and family, painting, gardening, floral décor and so on. I have been an active member of the Flower Club of Sri Lanka, Ikebana International and Bonsai Club of Sri Lanka for over thirty years. Being an active member of all the clubs have helped me enhance and develop my artistic skills. I have also enjoyed art and I have been painting since childhood but until now I never initiated the first steps to host a solo exhibition. I am quite excited to finally host my first exhibition. 

When did you first discover your passion for Art?

From an early age I was quite literally drawn towards art, and to me art was a mechanism to express myself. When I was a student, any free period I would be seated doodling and sketching in my textbooks, and this would often get me into trouble with my class teachers. At school I have won several prizes at Art competitions. Art was my first passion. However, growing up I never had access to many art supplies. They were not available in the island the way they are today. 

Did you learn the subject via a tutor or are you a self-taught artist? 
Mostly self-taught but I have received invaluable guidance from a few tutors for short spells of time over the years. Most of the techniques I have learnt are by watching tutorials online. Personally, for me, I feel sketching is one of the most important aspects in a painting and learning how to sketch is a tedious task but also a very interesting learning process.

Share with us in summary a bit about your childhood, and your journey into motherhood? 
I’m an alumna of an Anglican All Girl School in Kandy, Mowbray College. The school encouraged us to pursue several extracurricular activities which included Art, Pottery, Handwork, Needlework, Cookery, Bharatha Natyam and so on. All these subjects were taught alongside the regular school curriculum, and this paved a path for us to discover and enhance our artistic skills. I am who I am today because of the primary and secondary education I received from this school. Part proceeds from my first solo Art exhibition will be donated to the school as I also firmly believe in contributing and empowering establishments that focus on educating young girls. Educate a girl and you educate an entire generation. 

Upon graduating from school, I enrolled at the Dumbara Campus in Wattapuluwa, Kandy. However, a few months into my tertiary education, as I hailed from a very traditional family, my parents were keen for me to get married. Hence, I got married and moved to Dubai for eight years. After having three children, we decided to move back to Sri Lanka so that our children could enjoy their childhood in the island. My daughter, Ashwini was educated at Wycherley International School, and she went on to graduate from Warwick University, UK and Insead Business School, France. She is married and lives and works in Belgium with her husband, Didier and their two daughters. My son Suraendher was also educated at Wycherley International School, and he graduated from Imperial College, London. He too is married and lives and works in Colombo with his wife, Shevanthi and their son, and daughter. My youngest son, Shandheap completed his education at Colombo International School and moved to Canada for his tertiary education. He is currently living and working in California. 

This is your first solo exhibition; how many pieces will be on display? Share with us all the information pertaining to the exhibition. 
I will be displaying eighty-five paintings in various mediums, including oils, acrylic and texture. My forte is sketching human figures. Some of the paintings on display are over thirty years old. This is a collection of paintings I have done over three decades. During the pandemic, being in lockdown I had more uninterrupted time to focus on my painting. Part proceeds will be donated to my school and part proceeds will be donated to the Rotary Club Foundation.  

Who do you look up to for inspiration or mentorship?
My mother. She was an incredible lady. Hardworking and brilliant at multitasking. She was very creative and taught me several creative skills such as the art of Kolam, designing and creating floral garlands, different methods of stitching and so on. She was and she continues to be the strongest role model in my life.

Where do you see yourself ten years from now, as an artist and as an individual? 
Most likely continuing my work as an artist. I enjoy painting as it brings me great joy. 

Share with us in summary details of your other projects and initiatives? 
I have been supporting the Rotary Club for decades as my husband, Shan is an active member of the Rotary Club of Colombo East and has been a member since 1995. We have always contributed and been a part of several community service projects initiated and executed by the club. 
Hence, the reason we felt it was appropriate that a part of all proceeds from the exhibition should also be donated to the Rotary Club Foundation. Proceeds from the exhibition will be divided between the foundation and the school. The donation for the school will be utilized to improve the infrastructure of the sports ground and to provide better facilities for the students. Schools in Kandy are often affected by torrential rains and landslides. It’s a costly affair to maintain the school annually. 

What inspires you as an artist when you paint? Where do you draw your inspiration from? 
I am a very religious individual. I practice Hinduism, and I often visit historic temples in South India. I am mesmerized by the beauty and architecture of these temples. I enjoy spending countless hours gazing and studying temple frescoes. Some of my paintings at my exhibition have been inspired by temple frescoes. I am also quite fascinated by Kalamkari, which is a type of hand-painted cotton textile produced in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. Only natural dyes are used in Kalamkari, which involves twenty-three steps. Madhubani or Mithila painting is another style of painting I draw inspiration from. It was originally practiced by women in the Mithila region of India and artists create these paintings using a variety of mediums, including their own fingers, twigs, brushes, and matchsticks. The paintings are characterized by their geometrical patterns. Another form of art which I draw inspiration from are the Pichhwai paintings in India. These are mainly devotional Hindu paintings and are usually cloth portrays of Lord Krishna. I’m constantly inspired when traveling and hence I decided to aptly name my first exhibition, Beyond Borders. Sri Lanka is a multicultural island, a melting pot of all the worlds’ main religions. It is a cultural treasure trove. I draw inspiration from our beautiful beaches, luscious green hills, folk dancers, and the smiles of our people. For my next series of paintings, I intend to paint more using our Sri Lankan beaches as a backdrop. There is truly no beach on this planet that can match the beaches in Sri Lanka. My frequent travels across the globe, have always been my primary source of inspiration. Be it my conversations and engagement with tribal women in Africa adorned in exquisite jewelry, or Odisha Dancers in India, I am in awe of all the beauty that surrounds me when I’m exploring the world with my family. During my travels, whenever I come across any interesting painting, I will always inquire and try to find out more information about the artist. I believe the story and the journey of any artist is as equally important as their work. 

How do you want to be remembered one day?
As a good, kind, and generous human being. I believe in treating all beings equally with love, kindness, and respect.