I was born in Mauritius in the late ’90s and moved to England at the age of six. It didn’t take long for me to realize that I was different from most of my peers. At school, I learned to speak English and adapt to a new culture and climate. However, at home, I still lived in a very Mauritian cultural style. My parents spoke a lot of Mauritian Creole and cooked traditional Mauritian food, as if we had never left the country.
From a young age, I had a passion for art and culture. In Year 8, I would often stay in the art classroom, thoroughly enjoying being surrounded by different types and styles of art. The variety of art materials available fascinated me, triggering my curiosity and providing a safe haven. I found comfort in expressing myself through art, and I was extremely fortunate to have an art teacher who nurtured this interest during my school years.
I moved to the south of France for nearly a year, immersing myself in French culture with strong Spanish and Arabic influences. The bold colors, diverse cultures, and unique foods had a significant impact on me, prompting me to explore colors, shapes, and textures. This period marked the beginning of my personalized artistic style.
During my teenage years, I had the opportunity to travel to Canada for about three months. This was an exciting time for me, as I was able to immerse myself in new cultures and experiences. My first encounter with Native Americans left a deep impression on me. I felt a profound connection to their cultural history and spirituality, which led me to delve deeper into their arts and heritage. This experience sparked a spiritual awakening and a sense of connection that I had been searching for.
Upon returning to the UK, I felt something was missing. I attended college in Cambridge for a year, studying the arts and exploring how culture and art work together. I experimented with textured paintings and examined how our environment influences art, aiming to sensitize and educate others through my work.
In the mid-2010s, I moved to Cornwall and eventually settled in Penwith, by the beautiful coast. I attended Penwith College, spending three years in full-time education. I started with textured painting and researched how plants, medicinal properties, and art intersect. I thoroughly enjoyed experimenting with different media, dabbling in ceramics for about a year before returning to painting. I spent a lot of time exploring the coast and inland, observing the textures beneath our feet and feeling a deep connection to the Earth. Although I still felt something was missing, I felt grounded and curious as I completed my HND.
During my final year of completing my HND, I fell in love with ceramics. It all started with making a massive pot, and I felt an unexplainable connection with the clay. This connection to my mixed cultural background and ancestors was profound. I spent that year experimenting with textures on the surface of the clay and glazes. This love for ceramics helped me heal from personal challenges. The sense of grounding and earthing from working with clay was therapeutic. I traveled to Wales and around Cornwall, studying the soil and learning about it. Growing up in Mauritius, I had a deep connection with the coast, and I was grateful to find a sense of belonging in Cornwall. I continue to grow my roots by exploring the landscape and the stories around me.
I graduated with more questions than when I started. I continued my quest, exploring the types of clay-soiled land in our ancestral and heritage history and arts that have been forgotten and untold. In 2021, the stars aligned, and I was allocated an allotment. The wisdom gained from working with the soil and the moon allowed my art to grow with me. It made more sense than ever. I now work with a range of media and techniques, including wool,wood,plants fiber,fabrics, natural pigments from earth soil,clay and plants to create my own watercolors. I explore the form, size, color, and texture of the land and its connection to the natural world and how it speaks to us.
To this day, I continue traveling, learning, experimenting, and teaching about the untold heritage crafts that surround us.