With a style that is a striking blend of the modern and traditional, Manipur-based artist Sony Thokchom spreads pertinent messages through his artwork. From breast cancer awareness to mental health, Thokchom’s artworks touch upon critical issues that need to be heard and discussed in the current times. By Kasturi Das
An alumnus of New Delhi’s Jamia Millia Islamia, Thokchom started his career as a freelance illustrator for graphic novels and children’s books. Besides working on independent projects and commissioned works, he also teaches visual communication as a guest faculty at his alma mater.
1. Please walk us through your style of art.
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I would say it’s a mix of fashion illustration and painting with narration. My style of art has evolved with time, practice and experience. I have studied human anatomy, expressions and gestures in the past, and I have made plenty of human figures and faces. Fashion, human emotions, ethnicity, cultures, nature, geometry, etc., are my artworks’ main elements.
2. We see a lot of portraiture in your work too.
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I find it easier to express my views and feelings through portraits. I find women portraiture more expressive than men’s.
3. How has Manipuri culture and traditions influenced your art?
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I grew up around nature and a colourful culture. Until I moved to Delhi, it was an everyday setting for me. It was only later that I started noticing the difference. I realised how rich we [Manipuris] are in terms of the culture, biodiversity, and value system. By being away from home, I learnt about my identity and roots. I take inspiration from home, and incorporate it into contemporary fashion with the aim of connecting with the world. I believe one has to step out of their comfort zones and experience freedom in order to find their true potential. Now, every time I come back home, I view it from a new perspective, excitement, and enthusiasm.
4. The colour green stands out in most of our works. What does the colour symbolise?
Green is the colour of life, growth, energy, and healing. The colour is very close to my soul. I love to be in nature. Like many other artists, nature has been my major source of inspiration. Its balance and design is my biggest inspiration. I see an immense healing energy in the wild, green nature. Its flow is unstoppable, and its wisdom is beyond our understanding. We have a lot to discover and learn from it. We come from nature, and we will ultimately go back to nature. And the cycle of energy will carry on.
The series I am currently working on—Growing Wild—is inspired by this powerful energy of nature.
5. Tell us about Growing Wild.
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Growing Wild is a series reflective of my current state of mind that is flooding with wild ideas, similar to nature’s green energy. There is a secret wisdom that indigenous tribal communities have in connection to nature. I am incorporating the same, coupled with the message of mental health. In the current times, mental illnesses have spiked up. It calls for education and awareness to look at our society as a whole, and to be kind, understanding and open-minded.
6. You were recently awarded by the Art For Change Foundation for your works on mental health. Tell us a little about that.
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Yes, I was a part of the first virtual residency hosted by the Art for Change Foundation, in partnership with The Lighthouse Experiment, that focused on mental health. There were over 55 artists who create art to help raise awareness about mental health. It was a great learning experience. During the programme, I made a painting titled Psychosis which I consider to be a landmark piece in my career as an artist.
7. What was the idea behind Psychosis?
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I came back home to my parents a few days before the lockdown was announced. During the lockdown, my mother experienced symptoms of Schizophrenia. Initially, I had no idea about this mental disorder, and I believe many of us don’t have enough knowledge about it either. The stigma against mental illness is so strongly rooted in our culture that it can become difficult for a person to get diagnosed and receive proper treatment.
It has been a tough experience. However, I learned a lot about it in the process. My mother has asked me to share her story with others, so that it encourages other sufferers and their families to seek professional help. This personal experience inspired me to create Psychosis.
In the painting, the green choker ribbon on the subject symbolises mental health awareness. The subject is also wearing a serotonin-structured necklace. The pink tattoo on his chest represents anxiety and palpitations. The semicolon tattoo represents the decision of the person to continue with his life, rather than putting an end to it.
8. Your favourite self-made artworks, besides Psychosis?
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My favourite self-made artwork is I’m Beautiful and Strong, which is about breast cancer. Another favourite is The Golden Hill from the 2020 series Growing Wild, which is about visiting the golden realm in a subconscious state of mind and experiencing the beautiful memories of the past.
9. What are your upcoming plans?
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In 2021, I plan to travel to Kalimpong, Gangtok, Guwahati, Nagaland and Goa as a part of the Growing Wild project. I would like to explore and immerse myself in the culture of the region I visit, make some artworks, conduct workshops and hold exhibitions alongside. I will be posting the details soon. This year has been tough, but I see a shift in my journey. I am going with the flow. I have no idea what is going to come next, but I am very excited.
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Bayar Jain
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Equipped with a degree in Sociology (Honours) from the University of Delhi, and a post graduate diploma in English Journalism and Mass Communication from Xavier Institute of Communications, Mumbai, Bayar enjoys sharing stories of people, places, and different cultures. When not typing her travel tales, you can catch the hobbyist photographer capturing the next frame, dabbling in arts and crafts, or gushing over puppers and kittens.