Newsletter #6 / Wilding
Mountains, rugged, land, adventure, school of life/ living, drawing books, mark-making, 2024
By early March, as I turn another year older, I feel properly initiated into the new year. Possibly the reason why I’ve decided to drop the first newsie of 2024 now!
I’ve been thinking (and applying more than ever) the impact mountains and fault-lines have had on my practice. Themes surrounding wilding and wilderness, mysticism and dreams, resilience and endurance achieved from navigating hard terrains have found their way into my process.
The process of mark-making, mulling layers of pigment, erasure, drawing lines and figures moving through shadow and light, collaging material and matter - all to make images of movement, maps and masses.
Mountains and landforms, in my work, form a key part of storytelling. Ideas from myths, stories, faraway terrains, fantastical lands, geo-political borders and settlements are drawn, layered, marked, taken apart.
The Romantic movement drew mountains to be wild and mysterious which made for alluring imagery.
The composition of Goya’s painting El Coloso possibly symbolises emergence and power, place and war. Not very different from the times we live in today.
Rene Daumal, a French Surrealist writer, who I often reference, defines “Alpinism as the art of climbing mountains by confronting the greatest dangers with the greatest prudence” - transferrable to the scale of everyday life.
‘Wilding’ in the mountains offers the gift of perspective. Daumal writes:
“There is an art to finding your way in the lower regions by the memory of what you have seen when you were higher up. When you can no longer see, you can at least still know.”
I’ve taken some of these references, my lived experiences of navigating mountains and the wild so far, and on-going learnings to form and feed the bones of my art, big decisions and increasingly, everyday life choices.
In related news: I’ve begun two book projects (solo + collaborative) on drawing landforms from personal journeys and surreal experiences, and borders and migrations. More on this soon!
As I enter the last year of my 30’s today, I think back to my treks and meanderings, feelings of euphoria and exhaustion, trails and summits - with gratitude and curiosity, and a renewed fire to make more images than ever before!
A big welcome to all the new subscribers - this newsletter is a drip-feed of my work, references and perspectives.
Such a lovely way to share your special day with everyone.... By sharing some deep thoughts on your personal journey... A very Happy Birthday, Himani x