Yasodhara PATHANJALI

Picture perfect and pulsing with life

I would say that I’m obsessed with colour and freedom, always questioning everything and in need of an adventure–even if it’s a small one

Quirky and in love with colour, the environment, creativity and life itself, Yasodhara Pathanjali is a renowned artist who was first recognised for her hand painted wall mural, which is the largest in Sri Lanka.

A self-taught artist, she was born and raised in the UK. She returned to her Sri Lankan roots in 2016, ready to take life by its colourful palette and show the world what she’s capable of.

An open book, hopped-up on energy and a lover of all things fun, Yasodhara ensures that each day is spent with true joie de vivre. A mother of two beautiful girls, she carefully balances motherhood and her career while campaigning for a greener future.

In addition to her art and illustrating books for children, she’s creating a range of hand printed fabrics with vibrant colours under the brand ‘Pathanny.’

Ashwini Vethakan enjoys an interesting conversation with the talented artist who discusses her life, loves and hopes.

LIFE

■ How would you describe yourself?

I would say that I’m obsessed with colour and freedom, always questioning everything and in need of an adventure – even if it’s a small one. I’m also endlessly creative and a cheese fiend!

■ Besides art and fashion, what other passions do you have?

I’m very outspoken about the environment, equality issues and education. I think it’s very important to stand up against injustice wherever we see it.

Every time we silently allow even a small wrong to happen, we’re contributing to the larger wrongs – so I tend to voice out against every minor injustice I see. Other than that, I love anything that brings adventure – and of course, food!

■ You were born British and lived in the UK until 2016. What made you move to Sri Lanka?

From a very young age I had an affinity with Sri Lanka and wanted to be here. The stars lined up and made it happen in 2016… and I’ve never looked back. I find Sri Lanka much more fulfilling and rewarding than the UK, and feel alive here. It’s very precious.

■ What’s been your most memorable moment in life so far?

I can’t think of any one memorable moment. But I’m very fortunate to have achieved many things so that means a lot to me – such as my children and husband, paintings, being lucky to live in Sri Lanka and so much more.

So I love every minute of this crazy life and like to treat every day as a memorable one… or a day to celebrate. Life is much more fun that way.

I think it’s very important to stand up against injustice wherever we see it

■ Would you call yourself a romantic?

Most certainly, I’m a romantic. But I don’t believe that romance should be limited to interactions with your significant other. I’m romantic with everyone who is important to me.

I even send Valentine’s Day cards to my girlfriends and children. This is because I feel that love and romance have been too commercialised and stereotyped, and I want to celebrate the love I have for everyone in my life including me.

And I find taking a PickMe bike to my dance class romantic, a long train ride I once took with a girlfriend was very romantic, and sitting on our veranda in the evening is romantic. It’s the little everyday things – small surprises and tokens of your love and gratitude for life.

■ If art hadn’t been in the picture, what would you be doing right now?

Some kind of psychology related profession, possibly with a side of social work. I’m fascinated with understanding humanity and what makes us tick.

Having said that, the mentoring work that I do with aspiring artists and creatives is leading me somewhat along this path; so maybe this will be more of a feature in coming years.

Another option was being a standup comedian. I’m always the first to laugh at my own jokes and sometimes, the last as well. Humour is very important to me.

CAREER

■ What inspires the pieces you create?

Colour inspires me. I feel as if all this colour and movement is inside me, and that’s what pours out when I start something new. It’s the same with the clothing I design too. So each piece is a unique representation of that moment in time.

There are ideas and themes in my work but they’re more apparent at the starting point than my inspiration, as well as what I want to express.

■ Having experienced life overseas, does it influence the pieces you create?

No, I don’t think it influences my work. It’s more my humour, which is very British. But folk art around the world particularly Indian and Eastern European pieces have had a profound impact on my work.

I love what our ancestors created before the concepts of ‘polish’ and ‘refinement’ crept into art around the world. In addition, I do appreciate religious art from different countries – particularly the Middle East and Russia.

■ Your best advice on reacting to criticism is...

Listen to and process it, take what you can from what’s said and discard the rest. Don’t hang on to it even though this is easier said than done.

■ Tell us about how you launched your own label...

Actually, it’s been in progress for the past two years or so. I realised one day that my dream of learning block printing in Jaipur may not eventuate; so I decided to explore it myself. That’s how my printing began.

It took me about a year to refine my skill and be happy with the results. Now I have a steady but growing clientele and also the possibility of a bride in the next 18 months.

I made the decision not to retail so that I can ensure that every single piece from Pathanny is completely unique to each client.

■ Your art has a flower motif, and examines environmental issues such as pollution and the accumulation of garbage. What drew you to that theme?

I think it’s nearly impossible to live in today’s world, and not be moved or impacted by climate change and our responsibility to the planet.

I have a series that I’ve been working on for a number of years that’s based on commercial greed and its relationship with gender issues. So as an artist, it may not be that you are actively trying to communicate these matters through art.

But if those issues are impacting your thoughts and feelings while you create, they will then be addressed through your creations. It’s a part of who you are. And who I am is what I put into my work.

■ If you could go back in time and work with any popular artist, impressionist or designer, who would you pick and why?

There are so many. William Morris, the English artist who was not limited to paintings. He worked with furniture, wallpaper and fabric, and nature was his greatest source of inspiration.

I would also love to have been in Dambulla when the temple was being painted or watched Ena de Silva at work – and talked to her about reinventing traditional methods and art forms.

■ When it comes to fostering new talent, what do you think Sri Lanka lacks?

A true understanding of what creativity means. This is the key concept that I convey when I’m mentoring.

In Sri Lanka, creativity is considered to be simply copying what came before us when actually, it’s the exact opposite. Creativity is communicating your unique experience of the world in your chosen medium; it’s not about recreating traditional drawings or photos from Google.

My younger students really struggle with this idea because they’re taught in school that art is supposed to be ‘like this’… and when they come to me, I tell them the opposite!

LIFESTYLE

■ What is your definition of success?

Success would be to see my daughters grow up to be happy and fearless adults. That is my life’s work.

■ How would your children describe you?

They say in Sinhala: “Amma harima kolam” (‘Mum is a real comic’). Their main complaints are that I’m too busy and that I don’t like getting into the pool with them.

■ One of your pledges for 2020 was to steer clear of makeup. Why so?

Not all makeup, only foundation. I love makeup and can’t live without my gel eyeliner and a good lipstick.

But I realised late last year that the only time I wear foundation is when I’m requested to do so by the media or for an event – the implication being that I won’t look good otherwise.

I’m very happy in my own skin and would rather be me than uncomfortable and doing something to accommodate someone else’s idea of beauty. I’m no beauty queen; nor do I want to be one – my speckled skin and burnt nose are good enough for me.

■ ‘Quirky,’ ‘full of colour,’ ‘mad talent.’ These are some of the terms people use to describe you and your life choices. How would you respond to them?

Didn’t I describe myself using similar words? Is it ‘mad talent’ or ‘mad’ and ‘talented’? I’m happy with anything!

I’m truly touched if people see me this way; it really means a lot. I live with my heart on my sleeve and if I can leave this world a little more colourful and joyful but with less cheese than when I arrived, I’d be very happy.

FUTURE

■ If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?

To be able to withstand low temperatures better.

■ What advice would you give the future talent of Sri Lanka?

Look into yourself, find and develop your creative identity. It lies in you and not in the works of others, Pinterest or Instagram.

■ So what’s next for Yasodhara?

Life is unpredictable and I never know when inspiration might hit me. I’ll be doing the first shoot for my label Pathanny in the coming months and my second children’s book is also coming out this year.

From 30 to 35, I added a few professions to my portfolio so I’m hoping that as I approach 40, I can add some more.

I’m very happy in my own skin and would rather be me than uncomfortable