With Onam round the corner (September 8), Rema Sivakumar, an artist from Kerala residing in Muscat, walks back in time to reminisce about how art has engulfed her life after coming to Oman

Pungent aromas of coconut oil seasonings (underway in the kitchen) hit you right at the door, and a shimmering wall hanging of a nettipattom (an ornament placed on the forehead of temple elephants – which is an integral part of Kerala culture) fights for prominence among other exhibits on the wall… And there is a mini pookalam (a floral design – a ritual that marks Onam) in the balcony. Needless to say, you have walked into a Malayalee household wherein art and culture are two key elements of a lifestyle that hasn’t quite got watered down by decades of modernisation.

Rema Sivakumar, an Indian artist from Kerala who resides in an apartment facing the Arabian Sea in the PDO residential complex, has ample scope for inspiration floating around her all day. From colourful seascapes dissolving into each other from dawn to dusk, chirping birds and butterflies fluttering around playfully, to a unique serenity that beckons creativity from the most mundane soul, she has it all, and more!

Having moved to Oman over a decade and a half ago, Rema says she initially didn’t quite get time to purse an innate skill that had been waiting to be tapped for long. However, a decade ago she came came across a talented artist named Suji from whom she learnt basic techniques to develop her talent for sketching and painting. From there, began an interesting journey of exploring and experimenting, which has been very fulfilling till date, she says.

Learning the ropes

“I picked up a lot of practical tips and the basic rules of painting and sketching from Suji and did a joint exhibition with him a year later,” Rema said, adding that Suji has his own art classes and has taught numerous students, whom he selects, in Oman, over the years.

Starting out with acrylics, Rema later tried her hands with oil on canvas and feels it’s a more dynamic medium which offers the artist more scope to develop a work over many days, due to slow drying. She has done numerous paintings of portraits, landscapes, still life and abstracts which abound in different areas in her residence.

Having joined Rangrez, a group of Indian artists in Oman, Rema later had ample opportunity to take part in many joint exhibitions over the past decade, including virtual exhibitions during the recent pandemic. She strongly believes that art connects, and she takes this further in her relationships with fellow artists, her encounters with people wherever she goes, as well as with viewers of her work in exhibition.

Recently, she curated her first virtual exhibition titled ‘Avenues of Wonder’ along with another senior member of Rangrez, Nandana Kouli. Rema admits that curating is a procedure that works best when done in tandem with one or two fellow artists as various aspects of the theme could be tackled with ease when two or three minds come together.

“Being a curator is not an easy task as one needs to ask other artists to create something to suit a common theme,” Rema said, adding, “It’s good to get artists to create something new for an exhibition, but I don’t believing in restricting their creativity. They should find it challenging to conform to the theme in their own way.” The virtual exhibition, Avenues of Wonder, gave artist an opportunity to explore the theme in their own creative way, she pointed out, adding that it will soon be held as a physical exhibition in a suitable venue in Muscat.

Art in everything

Rema further explained that artists have their ow unique way of expressing themselves as well as understanding and appreciating art presented by other artists. However, every artwork should also enable the viewer to get some message from it. The message need not be universal as individual interpretations can be varied – but art needs to proke some thought, she asserted.

Explaining how art has taken over every aspect of her personality and life, Rema said she tends to view everything, including simple day to day tasks, from an artists point of view – like selecting shades that are right, or looking for contrast and beauty. Whether decorating her home, preparing a meal or even out on a shopping spree, art overpowers every aspect of her life and she has no regrets about it.

Rema admits that she is fond of painting images of Buddha and has created many different ones for friends. However, she has a few favourites which she doesn’t want to part with for any price. She also has a few artworks depicting people in Oman which are also treasured by her for years.

Having influenced her family with art (her teenaged son is also a self-taught artist) as well as taugh a few young students, Rema hopes to have her own solo exhibition for charity in the near future.